Professional – Page 94 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Piscotty homers in 8th to lead Cards’ comeback win over Cubs

Posted on August 14, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer, Brandon Moss followed with a solo shot one out later and the St. Louis Cardinals used a five-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs 6-4 on Sunday night.

Piscotty hit his 17th homer off setup man Hector Rondon (2-3), who entered with a 3-1 lead in his first appearance since Aug. 2 because of a triceps injury. After pinch-hitter Kolten Wong and Greg Garcia singled, Piscotty lofted a shot to deep left-center field that put the Cardinals ahead 4-3.

Moss added his 21st homer, then Randal Grichuk doubled in a run off Travis Wood.

The Cardinals split a four-game series with major league-leading Chicago, which dropped its second straight following an 11-game winning streak.

Cubs starter John Lackey allowed only one unearned run and four hits before leaving with two outs in the seventh with an injury. Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBI, and Ben Zobrist knocked in a run with a sac fly.

Lackey was sailing along and struck out five in his fourth straight solid start. But right-hander grimaced in pain after throwing a pitch to Grichuk. Lackey walked off the field and was replaced by Justin Grimm, who struck out Grichuk.

Matt Bowman (2-4) got three outs in the seventh in relief of Mike Leake for the win. Leake allowed three runs on six hits in six innings and retired 16 in a row over one stretch despite entering with a 9.00 ERA in his previous four starts.

Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh got the final five outs, including three strikeouts in the ninth, for his 11th save in 12 chances.

Garcia snapped an 0-for-31 streak with a single with one out in the third, then came around to score an unearned run on Zobrist’s throwing error to make it 2-1.

Leake settled into a pitchers’ duel with Lackey with a little help from his defense.

St. Louis third baseman Jhonny Peralta made a diving stop, rolled and threw to first in one motion on Addison Russell’s sharp grounder in the fourth.

Kris Bryant ended Leake’s run with a triple to right-center with one out in the sixth. He scored on Rizzo’s second RBI single to make it 3-1.

After the Cardinals took a 6-3 lead in the eighth, Rizzo hit his 25th homer in the bottom half.

LET’S PLAY TWO

Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he’d have no problem with MLB shortening the season by adding more doubleheaders, but not drawn-out day-night twinbills. Maddon would be for second games starting 30 minutes after the end of the first, and for teams adding two players to their rosters.

“I think the fans would dig it, too,” said Maddon, while noting he understands the economics of day-night doubleheaders with separate admissions. “If you have to put a premium on the price tag, I don’t know.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) is expected to be re-examined by the team’s hand specialist on Monday. . St. Louis LHP Kevin Siegrist left after striking out Zobrist in the eight with an apparent injury and was replaced by Oh.

Cubs: Rondon said before the game he was “100 percent ready.” He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Following a day off Monday, LHP Jaime Garcia (9-8, 3.93) opens a two-game set in Houston against LHP Dallas Keuchel (7-11, 4.56). St. Louis also has Thursday off, but manager Mike Matheny plans no changes to his strained rotation.

Cubs: Chicago also has Monday off, then hosts Milwaukee in a day-night doubleheader Tuesday. RHP Trevor Cahill (1-3, 3.07) is expected to come off the DL (right knee tendinitis) and start in the opener against Brewers RHP Matt Garza (4-4, 4.83). Chicago’s Jason Hammel (12-5, 2.90) is 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA since the All-Star break and will take the mound in the nightcap against RHP Chase Anderson (7-10, 4.93).

— Associated Press —

Chiefs’ reserves let 10-point 4th quarter lead slip away in loss to Seattle

Posted on August 13, 2016August 13, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Trevone Boykin did not just hit the ground running.

He hit it running, passing and winning in a last-second rally that sure made for a splashy NFL debut.

Competing to be Russell Wilson’s backup, the rookie from TCU engineered a last-minute, 88-yard touchdown drive in four plays, connecting with Tanner McEvoy with a 37-yard scoring pass, and then handing the ball to Troy Pope for the 2-point conversion with no time remaining, lifting Seattle past Kansas City 17-16 Saturday.

Boykin, competing with veteran Jake Heaps, replaced Wilson after one possession and had some good and some not-so-good moments before getting going on the final drive.

The clock showed 0:00 when McEvoy out-positioned and out-jumped Malcolm Jackson in the end zone, bringing the Seahawks to within one point in a game they had trailed all day.

“Our guys fought to the end. That’s what we did,” said Boykin. “Tanner made a great catch.”

The stunned Chiefs were flagged for having 12 men on the field, moving the ball to the 1, and Pope went off left guard to score the winner.

Boykin, a star at TCU who was not drafted, was 16 for 26 for 188 yards. Keeping the winning drive alive, he had a scrambling 15-yard run. It was second-and-9 when he lofted the pass to McEvoy, who was waiting in the end zone for the ball.

For the first 59 minutes, the Chiefs dominated, getting a touchdown drive from Alex Smith on their first possession and three field goals from Cairo Santos, including a career-long 58-yarder.

Steven Hauschka also had three field goals for the Seahawks.

PICKING UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF

Seahawks: Hauschka was 3 for 3 after hitting 29 of 31 last season, connecting from 52, 49 and 50 yards.

Chiefs: Santos was also perfect on three attempts and Marcus Peters, last season’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, had an interception of Wilson at the goal line.

ROOKIE WATCH

Seahawks: Brandin Bryant, the 290-pound rookie out of Florida Atlantic who’s been turning heads in practice, had two tackles at left tackle and seemed to hold his own against more experienced Chiefs linemen. Tyvis Powell, a safety out of Ohio State, made an alert interception off a tipped ball, got up and returned it 11 yards to put the Seahawks at midfield.

Chiefs: Special teams hopeful Eric Murray made a nifty stop on the 9-yard line on the kickoff following Santos’ field goal, leading to KC next taking possession at its 44.

INJURY UPDATE

Seahawks: The injury issue that’s been hurting the Seahawks since camp opened kept a number of players from even suiting up, including running backs C.J. Prosise and Zac Brooks and wide receivers Deshon Foxx, Kevin Smith and Kasen Williams. … Tight end Jimmy Graham, who returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since injuring his patella tendon last November, stayed home.

Chiefs: Linebacker D.J. Alexander went out in the first quarter with a rib injury, but returned late in the second.

POSITION BATTLES:

Seahawks: Boykin got off to a good start in his competition to back up Wilson. His case is strengthened because his college offense is similar to what he’s doing now. Flashing the agility that made him a dual-threat star at TCU, he also faked out linebacker Ramik Wilson for a 5-yard gain on third down.

Chiefs: Nick Foles, signed after camp opened to perhaps provide experienced backup for Smith, completed half his eight passes for 37 yards and was high on his first couple of throws, a problem he’s been having in camp. But tight end Demetrius Harris dropped a well-thrown ball on third down.

Smith directed a nearly flawless touchdown drive in his only possession, making a particularly nifty third-down completion to set up KC’s touchdown. He was 3 for 4 for 36 yards.

Wilson was almost equally impressive in his brief appearance. But a goal-line interception by Marcus Peters thwarted an otherwise impressive drive by the Seahawks’ first-team offense and its revamped offensive line.

Heaps was 2 for 6 for 20 yards.

Nick Foles, who had success in Philadelphia with Andy Reid, completed half of his eight passes for 37 yards after replacing Smith but was high on several throws. Tyler Bray, the strong-armed undrafted fourth-year quarterback from Tennessee, was 3 of 9 for 48 yards.

Taking advantage of Seattle mistakes, the Chiefs’ first-team offense drove 49 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead on the game’s first possession. Knile Davis picked up 34 yards with the kickoff, then a facemask penalty on Steven Terrell added 15. On third-and-9 from the Seattle 21, Smith escaped pressure and found Jeremy Maclin on the 1. Spencer Ware went in for the TD.

“It was good work out there, going against another team for the first time,” said Ware, who had 24 yards on five carries for an offense that rushed for 135 yards. “Camp’s not over yet. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

— Associated Press —

Gee allows three home runs as Kansas City falls at Minnesota 5-3

Posted on August 13, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brian Dozier hit his 25th home run of the season and the 100th of his career, leading Tyler Duffey and the Minnesota Twins over the Kansas City Royals 5-3 Saturday night and ending a four-game losing streak.

Dozier has 17 homers since June 25, most in the majors over that span. He also doubled and scored twice. Robbie Grossman added three hits, including a home run.

For the second time this season, the Twins homered three times off Royals starter Dillon Gee (4-6).

Eddie Rosario’s two-run shot in the fifth inning put the Twins ahead 4-1. Dozier followed him with a towering drive deep into the second deck in left.

Duffey (8-8) won for the third time in three starts this month. He allowed two runs on six hits in seven innings, striking out six.

Ryan Pressly pitched a scoreless eighth and Brandon Kintzler allowed an unearned run in the ninth but held on for his 11th save in 12 chances.

The Twins took the lead quickly, as Dozier led off the first inning with a double and scored on Grossman’s bad-hop single that skipped off first baseman Eric Hosmer’s shoulder and into right field.

Cheslor Cuthbert tied the game in the third inning with his 10th home run of the season.

Grossman hit a leadoff home run in the fifth to put the Twins on top for good.

Gee gave up five earned runs on 11 hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings.

BULLPEN SHUFFLE

The Twins switched lefties in their bullpen on Saturday, calling up Ryan O’Rourke from Triple-A Rochester and designating Andrew Albers for assignment. O’Rourke had a 4.91 ERA in eight appearances with the Twins earlier this season. Albers made one appearance for the Twins this season, giving up five runs in six innings of relief in the second game of a doubleheader against Houston on Thursday.

UP NEXT

LHP Hector Santiago will try to earn his first victory for the Twins on Sunday. Santiago (10-6), acquired from the Angels in a four-player trade on Aug. 1, has allowed eight earned runs in 10 1/3 innings in his first two starts for Minnesota, both losses. He’ll face RHP Edinson Volquez (8-10), who is 0-2 with three no-decisions since July 9.

— Associated Press —

Grichuk’s slam help Cardinals stop Cubs’ 11-game win streak

Posted on August 13, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Following two stints in the minors this season, Randal Grichuk is back in the majors and eager to prove he belongs.

Grichuk hit a grand slam that capped a six-run burst in the eighth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals stopped the Cubs’ 11-game winning streak, beating Chicago 8-4 Saturday.

After a run-scoring wild pitch and a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the eighth put the Cardinals ahead 4-2, Grichuk connected.

It was his second homer since being recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday — and it came on his 25th birthday, no less.

“I feel like a lot of people let that opportunity slip away thinking they’re going to have many more,” Grichuk said. “I’m definitely thankful for being up here right now and getting the opportunities, and I’m definitely trying to take advantage of it.”

Brandon Moss and Jedd Gyorko also homered for St. Louis.

Addison Russell hit his 14th homer for the NL Central-leading Cubs.

Alex Reyes (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief to get his first major league win in his second appearance.

St. Louis starter Luke Weaver gave up two runs on four hits in his major league debut. The 22-year-old was lifted for a pinch hitter after four innings and 85 pitches.

Carl Edwards Jr. (0-1) allowed five runs while getting only two outs.

Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks struck out 12, matching a career best, in seven innings. He gave up five hits, including two homers. His ERA rose slightly from 2.17 to 2.19.

“Just two bad changeups, really, two changeups up (in the strike zone),” Hendricks said. “That was about it. Hopefully, we could keep that winning streak going, but we’ll start a new one tomorrow.”

It was 2-all in the eighth when the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out. Edwards Jr. struck out Yadier Molina with a breaking pitch in the dirt and the ball bounced off the chest of catcher Willson Contreras and rolled toward the third-base dugout, allowing Stephen Piscotty to score.

Edwards then walked the next two batters to force in another run. Joe Smith relieved and Grichuk hit his slam.

“It means a lot,” Grichuk said. “It’s definitely a confidence booster. In Wrigley against the Cubs, a division rival, it’s definitely big and, hopefully, the confidence can carry over through the rest of the season.”

FUTURE ACES?

With Weaver and Reyes, 21, the Cardinals have a pair of prized pitching prospects. Manager Mike Matheny was asked if he allowed himself to think about both being in the rotation next season while watching them on Saturday.

“I won’t deny that that hit me at some point in that game,” Matheny said. “I even turned to (bench coach) Dave Bell and said, `This is really impressive stuff. These kids are making a nice first statement.’

“You probably couldn’t throw them into a hotter spot than what we just threw them into. This is a tough place to pitch and watching them . not just survive, I thought they looked terrific,” he said.

LA STELLA UPDATE

The Cubs are awaiting a decision from INF Tommy La Stella, who was put on the inactive list earlier this week after failing to report to Triple-A Iowa following a demotion last month. La Stella returned to his home in New Jersey.

“I’m still very optimistic about him coming back, but nothing has really abruptly changed right now,” manager Joe Maddon said. “I think he was very clear how he felt. I think we were very clear back to him how we felt.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF Matt Holliday (broken right thumb) was placed 15-day disabled on Saturday to make room for Weaver on the roster.

Cubs: After a bullpen session Friday, RHP Hector Rondon (sore triceps) reported no physical complications. Maddon said the reliever was “real close” to a return to the active roster … RHP Pedro Strop, who had an arthroscopic procedure to repair a meniscus tear in his left knee on Thursday, was back in the clubhouse on Saturday walking on crutches. He’s expected to be sidelined four to six weeks.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP John Lackey (9-7, 3.56 ERA) pitches the finale on Sunday. Lackey, who jumped from the Cardinals to the Cubs in the offseason, is 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA against St. Louis this season. RHP Mike Leake (8-9, 4.79) goes for the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

Ventura, Royals top Twins 7-3 for 5th win in in 6 games

Posted on August 12, 2016

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Yordano Ventura won consecutive starts for the first time in two months, Kendrys Morales homered in his return from a one-game suspension and the Kansas City Royals beat the Minnesota Twins 7-3 Friday night.

Ventura (8-9) struck out nine in seven innings, allowing four hits, one walk and three runs, pitching the Royals to their fifth win in the last six games. After posting a 5.15 ERA in the first half, Ventura has a 3.26 ERA after the All-Star break.

Miguel Sano homered for the fifth time in the last seven games and Brian Dozier hit a two-run shot, giving Twins starter Kyle Gibson (4-7) a one-run lead he took into the fifth inning. The Royals hit the ball plenty hard, but the softest one made the biggest impact.

Salvador Perez’s bat broke on a two-strike, two-out, two-run bloop single with the bases loaded the gave the Royals a 4-3 lead. Third baseman Trevor Plouffe awkwardly backpedaled for the slowly rising ball, but it cleared his head and landed in front of diving shortstop Jorge Polanco.

Eric Hosmer and Raul Mondesi hit RBI doubles for the Royals, and Paulo Orlando combined an RBI single with two lunging catches in center field to take hits from the Twins, who have lost four straight games after winning nine of 12 prior to the streak.

The Royals are 6-1 against the Twins this season, with 12 games left between them. After a rough July that all but dashed their dream of returning to the playoffs and defending their World Series title, the Royals are 7-4 in August. Their starting pitchers have a 3.01 ERA.

After using eight pitchers, including utility infielder Eduardo Escobar, and giving up 25 runs to Houston while being swept Thursday in a doubleheader, the Twins needed Gibson to go deep into the game. He was removed two batters into the sixth.

The right-hander hasn’t been able to get in a groove this season, though. His first-inning ERA is 9.00, and he has recorded quality starts of six innings or more and three runs or fewer only six times in 16 turns.

Lefties are hitting .330 in 188 at-bats against Gibson.

SUMMER SWATS

The Twins have a major league-most 63 home runs in 42 games since June 26, and Dozier leads both leagues in that span with 15 of his 24 homers. Sano has 20 home runs this season, including 16 against right-handers.

WET WEATHER

The game started 50 minutes late because of steady rain that wiped out batting practice and lasted into the evening. This was the ninth weather-related delay at Target Field this year, a total of 11 hours and 54 minutes of waiting, plus a pair of postponed games including Wednesday.

In seven seasons at the ballpark, the Twins have had 30 games delayed and 14 games postponed.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Morales returned from a one-game suspension served Thursday following his dropped appeal to Major League Baseball. Kansas City’s home run leader was punished for returning to the dugout following his ejection for arguing Aug. 2 at Tampa Bay about the strike zone.

Twins: LH Tommy Milone was placed on the DL with left biceps tendinitis, the third pitcher shelved for injury in three days. RH Trevor May visited a specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, for his lower back trouble. More testing is needed.

UP NEXT

Royals: Will keep RHP Dillon Gee (4-5, 4.54 ERA) in the rotation and start him Saturday, despite needing him in relief Wednesday in their 14-inning victory over Chicago. Gee struck out three in two perfect innings for the win.

Twins: Will send RHP Tyler Duffey (7-8, 5.93 ERA) to the mound for the second game of the series, his 20th start of the season. He struck out eight in six innings for the victory in his last turn, against Houston.

— Associated Press —

Duffy throws complete game, Royals rally past White Sox 2-1

Posted on August 11, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Danny Duffy pitched his first complete game to win his eighth straight decision, Cheslor Cuthbert had two hits and drove in a run and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 2-1 on Thursday night.

Duffy (9-1) limited the White Sox to seven singles, struck out six and walked none. The left-hander has not lost since June 6 and has a 1.73 ERA in his past five starts. Duffy threw 98 pitches, 71 for strikes.

Cuthbert tripled home Jarrod Dyson in the sixth and is second among AL rookies with 93 hits, 24 multihit games and a .303 batting average. Dyson was initially called out trying to steal second, but the Royals appealed and the call was overturned.

Cuthbert then scored the go-ahead run on Eric Hosmer’s single off Carson Fulmer (0-2). Fulmer has an 8.47 ERA in eight relief appearances.

Chicago’s Jason Coats, recalled Tuesday from Triple-A Charlotte, singled home Tim Anderson with two outs in the second for his first big league RBI.

White Sox right-hander Miguel Gonzalez exited after 21 pitches with a right groin strain. After Salvador Perez fouled off a full-count pitch leading off the second, White Sox manager Robin Ventura and trainer Herm Schneider came to the mound and led Gonzalez off.

MORALES DROPS APPEAL

Royals DH Kendrys Morales served his one-game suspension after dropping his appeal. Morales was punished by Major League Baseball for returning to the field Aug. 2 in Tampa Bay in the ninth inning after being ejected.

TO BE DETERMINED

The Royals have not decided who will start Saturday against the Twins. RHP Dillon Gee was scheduled for that evening but threw 32 pitches in two innings Wednesday in a 14-inning victory over the White Sox. While manager Ned Yost said Gee is “still in the mix” to start, that it is “more murky” after having to use him Wednesday.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE

Ventura said he is sticking with David Robertson as his closer, although he blew saves in the first two games of this series and six this season. “At some point it’s going to turn for me and hopefully I’ll get on a roll,” Robertson said. “Right now I’ve definitely been doing a poor job out there and I need to pick it up.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Wade Davis (flexor strain) threw 75 feet off a flat surface. “He’s getting close, probably in the next day or so,” Yost said of throwing off the mound.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Carlos Rodon (2-8, 4.49) seeks his first road victory since April 13 at Miami. The Marlins will counter with RHP Andrew Cashner (4-8, 4.96).

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura (7-9, 4.64), who beat Toronto on Sunday for his first win since June 17, will start Friday at Minnesota. The Twins will start RHP Kyle Gibson (4-6, 4.86).

— Associated Press —

Cardinals lose on walk-off walk at Chicago in 11 innings

Posted on August 11, 2016August 12, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Anthony Rizzo drew a bases-loaded walk from Zach Duke with two outs in the 11th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-3 on Thursday night for their 10th consecutive win.

Pinch-hitters Willson Contreras and Jorge Soler led off with singles against the lefty Duke (2-1) and Dexter Fowler walked to load the bases with one out. Kris Bryant struck out before Rizzo took a 3-1 pitch inside to give the Cubs their longest winning streak since getting 12 straight in 2001.

Mike Montgomery (4-5) allowed a single and two walks to load the bases in the 11th before striking out Matt Carpenter to end the threat. He won his first game for Chicago since being acquired from Seattle last month.

The Cardinals fell 13 games behind Chicago in the NL Central and lost Matt Holliday in the 10th after he was hit on the right hand by Mike Montgomery’s 94 mph fastball.

Randal Grichuk, called up from the minors before the game, tied it for St. Louis with a pinch-hit solo home run off Travis Wood in the seventh. Brandon Moss also homered for St. Louis.

Chris Coghlan had a two-run single and David Ross an RBI bunt single in the sixth for the Cubs.

Both managers used their closers in the ninth. Chicago’s Aroldis Chapman needed three pitches to get two liners to third and a groundout, while Seung Hwan Oh struck out the side for St. Louis. Oh then worked out of a 10th-inning jam.

The Cubs wasted three good opportunities to score before capitalizing in odd fashion.

After Coghlan’s two-out two-run single off Carlos Martinez tied it at 2, the 39-year-old Ross bunted an 0-1 curveball between the mound and third base. Martinez threw to first, and it drew Carpenter off the bag as Jason Heyward scored to put Chicago ahead.

Coghlan also teamed with Addison Russell to throw out Carpenter at the plate from left field on Stephen Piscotty’s double to end the seventh.

Cubs lefty Jon Lester allowed two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in six innings but lost a chance at his 13th win when Grichuk sent a 1-0 cutter into the left-field bleachers.

Moss hit his first homer off a lefty this season in the sixth to put the Cardinals up 2-0. Yadier Molina added three hits, including an RBI single in the first to extend his on-base streak to 24 games.

Martinez allowed three runs and seven hits over six innings. He hurt himself when he cut off a throw home that seemingly had a chance to get Rizzo on Chicago’s second run.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: A day after being scratched, 1B Matt Adams (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day disabled list. “He’s been working on some things throwing and also with his swing and something didn’t respond well,” manager Mike Matheny said. Grichuk was recalled from Triple-A Memphis.

Cubs: Pedro Strop (knee surgery) will be out four to six weeks and Hector Rondon (triceps) was unavailable. Rondon played catch and is scheduled for a bullpen session Friday.

UP NEXT

Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (13-5, 2.59 ERA) faces RHP Adam Wainwright (9-6, 4.34) on Friday afternoon.

— Associated Press —

Cain delivers game-winning hit for Royals in 14th inning

Posted on August 11, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Lorenzo Cain’s two-out single in the 14th inning scored Christian Colon from second base and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Colon opened the inning with a single and Paulo Orlando sacrificed him to second. Cain laced a single to center to score Colon, ending the 4-hour, 34-minute game, the longest by the Royals this season.

Dillon Gee (4-5), the eighth Kansas City pitcher, struck out three in two perfect innings to pick up the victory. Matt Albers (2-5) was charged with the loss.

Jarrod Dyson led off the 13th inning with a triple, but the Royals failed to get him home. Dan Jennings struck out the next three batters: Drew Butera, Alex Gordon and Alcides Escobar.

Tim Anderson delivered a run-producing single with two outs in the 11th to give the White Sox a 2-1 lead, but closer David Robertson failed to hold it.

Anderson, who had struck out four times, hit a soft liner over the head of first baseman Eric Hosmer to score Todd Frazier, who led off the inning with a single off Chien-Ming Wang.

Robertson, who has blown saves in the first two games of the series, walked Hosmer to lead off the bottom of the 11th. Jarrod Dyson sacrificed him to second and Salvador Perez’s double scored Hosmer.

White Sox left-hander Jose Quintana limited the Royals to four hits and one run over 7 1/3 innings.

He was pulled after Paulo Orlando’s double in the eighth inning. Nate Jones replaced him and on his first pitch yielded a run-producing double to Cheslor Cuthbert. It was Jones’ seventh blown save of the season.

Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy, who has a 0.93 ERA in his past three starts, held the White Sox to one run and six hits over 6 1/3 innings. Kennedy is 0-3 with five no-decisions since a June 26 victory over Houston.

The Royals have scored a total of nine runs while Kennedy was on the mound in his past eight starts.

J.D. Shuck, who hit .083 over his previous eight games, homered on a 2-0 pitch in the third, the only run Kennedy allowed.

Orlando had two outfield assists. He threw out Omar Narvaez at the plate in the seventh when he attempted to score from second on

Shuck’s single to center. In the ninth, pinch-runner Carlos Sanchez tried to take second on Tyler Saladino’s fly out to deep right-center, but Orlando threw him out.

QUICK EJECTION

White Sox pitching Don Cooper was ejected by plate umpire Pat Hoberg five pitches into the bottom of the first inning for arguing balls and strikes.

HAWK ABSENT

Ken Harrelson, who is in his 32nd season in the White Sox television booth, will miss all six games of this Kansas City and Miami road trip due to illness.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: INF Brett Lawrie (strained left hamstring) has resumed swinging a bat. “He looks much better from where he was,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “It’s another step in the right direction for him, but, we don’t know exactly how that’s going to go.”

Royals: LHP Mike Minor, who has not pitched in the majors since Sept. 23, 2014, with the Braves and had surgery in 2015 to repair a torn labrum, is rehabbing with Triple-A Omaha. He likely will not rejoin the Royals until September, when the hope is could make some starts.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez is 0-1 with a 3.65 ERA in two starts this season against the Royals.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy is 4-0 with a 3.67 ERA in nine home starts this season.

— Associated Press —

CBs Gaines, Nelson among those vying to start for Chiefs

Posted on August 10, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The reality of injuries sustained in the NFL can be harsh.

When a player like Phillip Gaines suffers a serious injury, there’s never a guarantee a spot will still be available upon his return. The Chiefs’ third-round draft pick out of Rice in 2014 worked into a starting role by the end of his rookie year and reassumed that position last year.

A torn ACL suffered in Week 3 during a loss to the Packers ended Gaines’ season and clouded his future.

Gaines left offseason activities as the presumed second starter at cornerback opposite 2015 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marcus Peters. Gaines and Steve Nelson have split time on the right side with the first team so far in training camp, and Gaines clearly fits into the Chiefs’ plans.

“It just feels good to be able to have the opportunity to play, and I’m going to try and make the most of it,” Gaines said.

The Chiefs listed Nelson, a third-round pick out of Oregon State in 2015, as the second starter in the first depth chart released earlier this week.

Gaines continues to slowly work back from the knee injury, and Kansas City coach Andy Reid limited his participation in Wednesday’s practice, the last one in pads ahead of the preseason opener against Seattle on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium. Reid said he would attempt to play everyone on the roster, and the early portion could provide a first look at how the Chiefs deploy the cornerbacks alongside Peters, who grabbed eight interceptions and returned two for touchdowns in his first season.

The Chiefs’ cornerbacks corps took a hit in the offseason when Sean Smith left in free agency for the Oakland Raiders, leaving a starting spot open, with Gaines, Nelson, Marcus Cooper and a trio of rookies looking to earn playing time. None of those seven players has more than three years of experience.

“Real talented group. We’ve just got to come along,” Peters said. “That’s what camp is for. As camp goes on, everyone gets a lot more comfortable and the speed of the game slows down and you start making your plays. I love the talent. Everyone’s out here competing.”

Gaines started his career in Kansas City with a prominent role on special teams. He started five games in 2014 before a concussion and illness ended his season after 13 games.

With Smith suspended the first three games of 2015, Gaines earned a starting spot. But his season ended in the game before Smith returned. He has 26 tackles and no interceptions in his first 16 NFL matches.

Nelson didn’t play much early in 2015, but Gaines’ injury and other struggles in the secondary helped him get on the field in 12 games. His biggest moment came in a playoff win against the Houston Texans when he briefly subbed for Peters and broke up a pass intended for star wideout DeAndre Hopkins.

Coaches have shown a preference to use Gaines in the slot, making him a potential fit as a nickel defender rather than the No. 1 cornerback on the right side.

Despite having only eight tackles to his credit, Nelson could quickly move into that starting role, and coaches and teammates like his fiery attitude and emotional style. Nelson has admitted disappointment with not playing more as a rookie, but Reid has confidence he is ready to assume a much larger role.

“He’s an energy giver, that kid,” Reid said. “He’s learning all the fundamentals and technique and battling like crazy. He never gives up on a play. He’s got a short memory.”

Cooper currently has the No. 2 spot on the depth chart behind Peters. Cooper showed flashes in 2013 with three interceptions, but struggled in 2014 and made just two tackles in 10 games last year.

The rookie draft picks sit behind the top four attempting to make their case for a spot in the rotation.

KeiVarae Russell (third round, Notre Dame), Eric Murray (fourth round, Minnesota) and D.J. White (sixth round, Georgia Tech) were all taken to add depth at a seemingly thin spot. Currently, Murray and sixth-year veteran defensive back Jamell Fleming, who has played some cornerback the past two years with Kansas City, are listed at safety on the depth chart.

Peters, Gaines and Nelson look like the only guaranteed contributors at cornerback, but the depth could be important – a lesson the Chiefs learned last year while rotating through a multitude of looks.

“Nothing’s set in stone until the game’s here, and from game to game it can change, too,” Gaines said. “I got hurt last year. At the blink of an eye someone else had to come in. You always have to be mentally prepared to take every rep even if you’re not on the field so when you are put in, we just keep it moving.”

— Associated Press —

Carpenter, Peralta homer as Cardinals beat Reds 3-2

Posted on August 10, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia is finally feeling like himself on the mound.

“I’m a guy who goes after guys and I got away from where I needed to be and I had some mechanical issues that I had to get rid of,” Garcia said. “The last couple of games my defense has been great and hopefully we can do that the rest of the way.”

Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta homered to back up a second straight dominant start by Garcia as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Wednesday night.

Garcia (9-8) needed just 85 pitches to get through 8-plus innings and 19 of his 24 outs were ground balls or strikeouts. The lefty has given up two runs in his last 16 innings.

“When I’m pitching my goal is to get quick outs and to get them to hit the ball on the ground and I was able to do that today,” Garcia said.

Shortstop Greg Garcia had nine putouts. Greg Garcia and Peralta, who played third, made back-to-back stellar defensive plays to get Jaime Garcia out of the eighth.

“Those ground balls, he had a lot early in the count,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. “Guys thought they saw it and it would just dance out of the zone at the last second.”

Carpenter’s homer in the first inning was his second leadoff home run of the season and 11th of his career. It was also Carpenter’s second career homer against Reds starter Anthony DeScalfani.

Peralta’s solo homer in fourth was the 200th of his career. Peralta is hitting .345 in August.

Peralta didn’t know about the career milestone until teammate Matt Holliday told him.

“It was a surprise for me,” Peralta said. “I try to think in my mind like what’s close to me and everything, but yeah, Holliday surprised me.”

Seung-Hwan Oh earned his 10th save in 11 tries.

“He continues to impress us,” Matheny said. “Everything he does. The way he prepares, the way he competes and just the mix he is on our club. It’s nice to have him.”

DeSclafani (6-1) took his first loss of the season and in his career in five appearances against St. Louis. The three runs he gave up in five innings equaled the three total he gave up in his three previous starts against the Cardinals spanning 19 innings.

Eugenio Suarez’s solo homer in the fourth for the Reds was his first since July 25.

Red manager Bryan Price tipped his cap to Jaime Garcia.

“We’ve seen him really, really good in the past; we’ve seen him other times where he’s a little more vulnerable with his command and up in the zone, but tonight wasn’t one of those nights,” Price said. “There wasn’t much there and Anthony certainly wasn’t on top of his game and still was able to go out there and be able to compete and keep it close. We just weren’t able to do much with Garcia.”

STILL STREAKING

Yadier Molina’s single in the sixth extended his streak of reaching base safely to 23 games. It is the longest streak by a Cardinals catcher since Gene Tenace reached in 35 straight games between 1981 and 1982.

WEB GEM

Reds second baseman Tony Renda made a diving stop on Holliday’s hit up the middle. Renda was able to throw out Holliday at first saving a run.

OMINOUS ANNIVERSARY

Six years ago, the Cardinals and Reds got into an infamous brawl in Cincinnati sparked by comments made by Brandon Phillips about the St. Louis organization. Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue suffered a concussion during the melee and never played again.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: RHP Alfredo Simon (trapezius) and RHP A.J. Morris (straight shoulder) were scheduled to make their second rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville.

Cardinals: 1B Matt Adams (left shoulder soreness) was a lineup scratch several hours before game-time. Peralta replaced him at sixth in the order playing third base and Carpenter moved to first base.

UP NEXT

Reds: Homer Bailey has permitted seven runs in 8 2/3 innings his first two starts of the season.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez gets the call in the opener of a four-game series at Chicago. In two starts against the Cubs this year, both at home, he’s 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA.

— Associated Press —