The Toronto Blue Jays just finished a game above .500 on their trip. Finishing anywhere near the break-even mark on their upcoming 10-game stretch on the road would be quite an accomplishment for the Kansas City Royals.
Toronto tries to continue its home field dominance of the Royals as this three-game series begins Tuesday night.
After getting outscored 7-1 to begin the series, the Blue Jays (65-62) avoided a third straight loss to Oakland on Sunday with a 1-0 victory. Luis Perez allowed one hit over six innings in his first big league start, and Jose Bautista hit his major league-best 36th homer to cap Toronto's 4-3 trip.
"When you can win more than you lose on the road it's a good thing," manager John Farrell told the Blue Jays' official website.
Royals manager Ned Yost would definitely take similar results as his club opens a stretch of 17 of 20 on the road, including stops in Cleveland and Detroit on this trip.
"It's not just us," Yost told the Royals' official website. "Look at a lot of other teams and see how many teams are playing .500 or better on the road. I guarantee at least half of them aren't."
The Royals are 19-39 on the road and have lost 21 of 28 in Toronto, which has won 10 of 15 at home.
Brandon Morrow (9-7, 4.41 ERA) faces Kansas City (52-76) for the second time this season in the series opener. The right-hander gave up two hits in six innings of a 3-2, 11-inning road loss June 6.
Just like in that game, Morrow did not allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning of his last start, Wednesday's 5-1 victory at Seattle. He struck out a season-high 12 while yielding three hits in six innings.
Morrow has fanned 10 or more four times this season, and he leads the majors with 10.45 strikeouts per nine innings.
Royals scheduled starter Bruce Chen (8-5, 4.17) can't match Morrow's velocity, but the results have been impressive. The veteran left-hander will try to win four consecutive starts for the first time in his career after pitching six strong innings in Wednesday's 5-4 victory over New York.
"Whenever you have a good defense, it makes you want to throw strikes, so I went out there and challenged guys," Chen told the Royals' official website.
He is 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts against Toronto, with none since 2005 while with Baltimore.
Chen gets his first look at Bautista, who is 11 for 21 (.524) with three homers and four RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak.
Bautista went 4 for 13 with an RBI as these clubs split a four-game series in Kansas City from June 6-9.
Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind, who was 5 for 14 (.357) with two homers and seven RBIs during that series, is questionable after getting hit on the right wrist by a pitch in Saturday's 5-1 loss.
Billy Butler and Alex Gordon were a combined 18 for 51 (.353) with three homers and 14 RBIs on the Royals' 2-5 homestand that ended with Sunday's 6-1 loss to Boston, but they are 15 for 71 (.211) lifetime in Toronto.
Butler is hitless in six at-bats versus Morrow, while Gordon is 1 for 5.
2011年8月23日星期二
2011年8月22日星期一
Royals have seen enough of Lester
Kansas City, Mo. - Jon Lester loves to face the Kansas City Royals.
Lester curbed the Royals on three hits for six-plus innings and Jason Varitek tripled for the first time in more than four years as the Boston Red Sox won 6-1 on Sunday.
"My stuff at times was good and at other times I was trying to do too much, overthrowing the ball a little bit," Lester said.
Lester (13-7) has allowed two runs and six hits in 13 innings in his past two starts to beat Kansas City and Tampa Bay. He is 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals, including a no-hitter on May 19, 2008.
Carl Crawford and Darnell McDonald hit solo home runs for the Red Sox. McDonald replaced Jacoby Ellsbury, who missed his second straight game with a contusion in his back after being hit by a pitch Friday.
The Red Sox took 3 of 4 from the Royals although other starters David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew were also out with injuries.
"It's nice to know when those guys are out you have other guys to fill in and do a good job," Lester said. "That's big for us, a confidence-booster definitely. Guys that filled in those spots did a good job."
Varitek's two-out triple rolled to the right-center fence, allowing Jed Lowrie to score in the fifth to break a scoreless deadlock. Lowrie led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Crawford ground out. Varitek's triple was his first since June 24, 2007 at San Diego off Jake Peavy.
How did it feel?
"Not so good," said Varitek, who was icing both knees at his clubhouse stall. "I'm just spacing them out. With two outs, it didn't look like it's something I shouldn't have any problem getting to (third)."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona joked "speed never takes a day off."
"It's not like Jacoby and Carl, trust me," the 39-year-old Varitek said.
"It's not often you see Tek get a triple," Lester said.
McDonald, who had three hits, hit his fifth home run of the season in the sixth on an 0-2 pitch from Royals rookie left-hander Danny Duffy (3-7). Aaron Crow gave up a home run to Crawford, his eighth, in the seventh inning.
Ryan Lavarnway, Adrian Gonzalez and Jed Lowrie had RBIs in the eighth as the Red Sox scored three runs off Louis Coleman, one of four rookie pitchers the Royals used.
Duffy gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, while striking out three and walking two. He has lost four August starts since a July 31 victory at Cleveland.
Johnny Giavotella led off the Royals seventh with a triple and scored on Mike Moustakas' single for the only run off Lester. He was replaced by Daniel Bard after 113 pitches with two runners on base. Bard retired the next three hitters.
"It's nothing unexpected from him," Lester said of Bard's performance. "He's done it since he's been up here. It's big to have a guy like that in our bullpen. That's what he's done all year. It makes your job a little easier as a starter, knowing you have those guys down there."
Lester curbed the Royals on three hits for six-plus innings and Jason Varitek tripled for the first time in more than four years as the Boston Red Sox won 6-1 on Sunday.
"My stuff at times was good and at other times I was trying to do too much, overthrowing the ball a little bit," Lester said.
Lester (13-7) has allowed two runs and six hits in 13 innings in his past two starts to beat Kansas City and Tampa Bay. He is 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA in seven career starts against the Royals, including a no-hitter on May 19, 2008.
Carl Crawford and Darnell McDonald hit solo home runs for the Red Sox. McDonald replaced Jacoby Ellsbury, who missed his second straight game with a contusion in his back after being hit by a pitch Friday.
The Red Sox took 3 of 4 from the Royals although other starters David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis and J.D. Drew were also out with injuries.
"It's nice to know when those guys are out you have other guys to fill in and do a good job," Lester said. "That's big for us, a confidence-booster definitely. Guys that filled in those spots did a good job."
Varitek's two-out triple rolled to the right-center fence, allowing Jed Lowrie to score in the fifth to break a scoreless deadlock. Lowrie led off the inning with a single and moved to second on a Crawford ground out. Varitek's triple was his first since June 24, 2007 at San Diego off Jake Peavy.
How did it feel?
"Not so good," said Varitek, who was icing both knees at his clubhouse stall. "I'm just spacing them out. With two outs, it didn't look like it's something I shouldn't have any problem getting to (third)."
Red Sox manager Terry Francona joked "speed never takes a day off."
"It's not like Jacoby and Carl, trust me," the 39-year-old Varitek said.
"It's not often you see Tek get a triple," Lester said.
McDonald, who had three hits, hit his fifth home run of the season in the sixth on an 0-2 pitch from Royals rookie left-hander Danny Duffy (3-7). Aaron Crow gave up a home run to Crawford, his eighth, in the seventh inning.
Ryan Lavarnway, Adrian Gonzalez and Jed Lowrie had RBIs in the eighth as the Red Sox scored three runs off Louis Coleman, one of four rookie pitchers the Royals used.
Duffy gave up two runs on five hits in six innings, while striking out three and walking two. He has lost four August starts since a July 31 victory at Cleveland.
Johnny Giavotella led off the Royals seventh with a triple and scored on Mike Moustakas' single for the only run off Lester. He was replaced by Daniel Bard after 113 pitches with two runners on base. Bard retired the next three hitters.
"It's nothing unexpected from him," Lester said of Bard's performance. "He's done it since he's been up here. It's big to have a guy like that in our bullpen. That's what he's done all year. It makes your job a little easier as a starter, knowing you have those guys down there."
2011年8月20日星期六
Moreland's homers help Rangers past White Sox
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Mitch Moreland clobbered two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the red-hot Texas Rangers to a 7-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Friday.
Texas have won seven of their last eight games and maintained their six game lead at the top of the American League West ahead of the Los Angeles Angels, who beat Baltimore 8-3.Chicago dropped five games behind the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers after the loss.
Chicago built an early 3-0 lead and White Sox starter Jake Peavy was cruising until getting roughed up in the fourth inning when Michael Young led off with a single, the Rangers first hit of the game, and scored on a double by Nelson Cruz.
Moreland then hit a three-run blast to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
"Huge, real huge," Texas manager Ron Washington told reporters. "Once Mitch caught one, we got energized and started going from there."
Chicago capitalized on a two-base throwing error in the fifth inning to tie it 4-4, before Josh Hamilton led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and Moreland put the game out of reach with a two-run homer.
Moreland has been nursing a sore hamstring that kept him out of the lineup on Thursday.
"It was fun, a good night," Moreland told reporters.
"The hamstring felt fine today, we were good to go."
Peavy took the loss giving up seven runs on six hits in six innings while reliever Yoshinori Tateyama replaced Texas starter Matt Harrison in the fifth and pitched 2-2/3 innings without giving up a hit to get the win.
"I just got behind him (Moreland) twice and challenged him, and he won both," Peavy told reporters. "I just have to make better pitches."
Texas have won seven of their last eight games and maintained their six game lead at the top of the American League West ahead of the Los Angeles Angels, who beat Baltimore 8-3.Chicago dropped five games behind the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers after the loss.
Chicago built an early 3-0 lead and White Sox starter Jake Peavy was cruising until getting roughed up in the fourth inning when Michael Young led off with a single, the Rangers first hit of the game, and scored on a double by Nelson Cruz.
Moreland then hit a three-run blast to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead.
"Huge, real huge," Texas manager Ron Washington told reporters. "Once Mitch caught one, we got energized and started going from there."
Chicago capitalized on a two-base throwing error in the fifth inning to tie it 4-4, before Josh Hamilton led off the sixth inning with a solo home run and Moreland put the game out of reach with a two-run homer.
Moreland has been nursing a sore hamstring that kept him out of the lineup on Thursday.
"It was fun, a good night," Moreland told reporters.
"The hamstring felt fine today, we were good to go."
Peavy took the loss giving up seven runs on six hits in six innings while reliever Yoshinori Tateyama replaced Texas starter Matt Harrison in the fifth and pitched 2-2/3 innings without giving up a hit to get the win.
"I just got behind him (Moreland) twice and challenged him, and he won both," Peavy told reporters. "I just have to make better pitches."
2011年8月19日星期五
A new deal
Jeff Francoeur signed with the Kansas City Royals in the offseason hoping for a chance to prove that he could be an everyday player. He agreed to a contract extension Thursday because he succeeded.
The Royals announced the two-year extension shortly before opening a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox. It should keep the 27-year-old right fielder with the club through the 2013 season, when those within the organization expect the youngest roster in the majors to be competing for championships.
“We have enough pieces in place, and hopefully guys to come, that hopefully this will turn around quick. We’re in a division where you don’t have to win 95, 96 games a year,” Francoeur said. “We’re in a good division to hopefully finish this season strong and play well next season. And for me, I want to be a part of that, I do. I want to be part of when this thing turns around and Kansas city starts winning again. I want to say I was here.”
It’s been a while since someone said that in baseball’s backwaters.
Kansas City hasn’t finished better than third in its division since 1995, and that includes a stretch of three consecutive seasons from 2004-06 in which the franchise lost 100 games. But with the arrival of general manager Dayton Moore, the Royals began to restock the farm system and add some key free agents.
The Royals announced the two-year extension shortly before opening a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox. It should keep the 27-year-old right fielder with the club through the 2013 season, when those within the organization expect the youngest roster in the majors to be competing for championships.
“We have enough pieces in place, and hopefully guys to come, that hopefully this will turn around quick. We’re in a division where you don’t have to win 95, 96 games a year,” Francoeur said. “We’re in a good division to hopefully finish this season strong and play well next season. And for me, I want to be a part of that, I do. I want to be part of when this thing turns around and Kansas city starts winning again. I want to say I was here.”
It’s been a while since someone said that in baseball’s backwaters.
Kansas City hasn’t finished better than third in its division since 1995, and that includes a stretch of three consecutive seasons from 2004-06 in which the franchise lost 100 games. But with the arrival of general manager Dayton Moore, the Royals began to restock the farm system and add some key free agents.
2011年8月18日星期四
A-Rod may not be activated Thursday
MOOSIC, Pa. — With cameras flashing for every at-bat, A-Rod the minor-leaguer moved closer to joining the Yankees.
Alex Rodriguez, though, might not be ready to join the big-league lineup.
Rodriguez played his final minor-league rehabilitation game on Wednesday, before joining the AL East-leading Yankees in Minnesota. Rodriguez might not be activated when the series opens Thursday. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday Rodriguez told him his right knee still felt "tentative" prior to the start. Rodriguez had surgery last month for a torn meniscus.
"Our plans right now are still to bring him to Minnesota (on Thursday) if everything goes OK," Girardi said prior to the Yankees' game in Kansas City. "We may not activate him. We may have him just go through some things for a couple of days and wait a couple of days to activate him."
When A-Rod does rejoin the roster, he could be the designated hitter and not start right away at third base.
"That's a possibility," Girardi said. "That's something I'll definitely consider. Let's get through tonight and get him to Minnesota tomorrow, and we're going to take a look at him."
Rodriguez walked twice and committed an error for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre through the first four innings Wednesday. He was in an 0-2 hole against Durham starter, and top Tampa Bay prospect, Matt Moore before he worked a walk in the fourth.
Rodriguez, who has 626 career homers, struck out looking against reliever Joe Bateman in the sixth. And he let a ball scoot through his legs in the first inning. Unlike Tuesday vs. Durham, he might play the entire game on Wednesday.
Which would be just fine by the Scranton crowd, certainly. After all, he attracted an announced total of 10,408, the largest crowd of the season.
Rodriguez was the last player off the field during pregame warmups, and tossed a ball into the stands as he jogged into the dugout. He was cheered by a huge crowd in Yankees gear that had lined up outside PNC Field hours before the gates opened.
Girardi said he would make a decision to activate A-Rod after watching the 36-year-old Rodriguez work out. "Just watching him run, watching him move around and see what he says, how he feels," Girardi said.
The Yankees will begin a four-game series Thursday night against the Twins. They went into Wednesday night's game one game ahead of Boston in the AL East.
They'll be careful not to rush A-Rod.
"A couple of days, if you rush it, could cost you a couple of weeks," Girardi said. "You can end up hurting something else. That's why we want to take a look at him with our own eyes tomorrow and see how far he is away and see if he's ready for tomorrow."
Girardi said Rodriguez told him he felt good but was "tentative."
"And I don't think that's so abnormal. He ran probably 3½ weeks tentative. And you can kind of get used to running a certain way. He's been this way for probably the last eight weeks now. He has to get that out of his mind."
The rehabilitation game was Rodriguez's fourth, after playing two over the weekend in Dunedin, Fla., for the Class A Tampa Yankees. He was the DH for two games vs. the Dunedin Blue Jays, and homered in his first at-bat on Friday night.
Rodriguez lined a single to right, before flying out to left, and popping up to second on Tuesday.
Alex Rodriguez, though, might not be ready to join the big-league lineup.
Rodriguez played his final minor-league rehabilitation game on Wednesday, before joining the AL East-leading Yankees in Minnesota. Rodriguez might not be activated when the series opens Thursday. Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday Rodriguez told him his right knee still felt "tentative" prior to the start. Rodriguez had surgery last month for a torn meniscus.
"Our plans right now are still to bring him to Minnesota (on Thursday) if everything goes OK," Girardi said prior to the Yankees' game in Kansas City. "We may not activate him. We may have him just go through some things for a couple of days and wait a couple of days to activate him."
When A-Rod does rejoin the roster, he could be the designated hitter and not start right away at third base.
"That's a possibility," Girardi said. "That's something I'll definitely consider. Let's get through tonight and get him to Minnesota tomorrow, and we're going to take a look at him."
Rodriguez walked twice and committed an error for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre through the first four innings Wednesday. He was in an 0-2 hole against Durham starter, and top Tampa Bay prospect, Matt Moore before he worked a walk in the fourth.
Rodriguez, who has 626 career homers, struck out looking against reliever Joe Bateman in the sixth. And he let a ball scoot through his legs in the first inning. Unlike Tuesday vs. Durham, he might play the entire game on Wednesday.
Which would be just fine by the Scranton crowd, certainly. After all, he attracted an announced total of 10,408, the largest crowd of the season.
Rodriguez was the last player off the field during pregame warmups, and tossed a ball into the stands as he jogged into the dugout. He was cheered by a huge crowd in Yankees gear that had lined up outside PNC Field hours before the gates opened.
Girardi said he would make a decision to activate A-Rod after watching the 36-year-old Rodriguez work out. "Just watching him run, watching him move around and see what he says, how he feels," Girardi said.
The Yankees will begin a four-game series Thursday night against the Twins. They went into Wednesday night's game one game ahead of Boston in the AL East.
They'll be careful not to rush A-Rod.
"A couple of days, if you rush it, could cost you a couple of weeks," Girardi said. "You can end up hurting something else. That's why we want to take a look at him with our own eyes tomorrow and see how far he is away and see if he's ready for tomorrow."
Girardi said Rodriguez told him he felt good but was "tentative."
"And I don't think that's so abnormal. He ran probably 3½ weeks tentative. And you can kind of get used to running a certain way. He's been this way for probably the last eight weeks now. He has to get that out of his mind."
The rehabilitation game was Rodriguez's fourth, after playing two over the weekend in Dunedin, Fla., for the Class A Tampa Yankees. He was the DH for two games vs. the Dunedin Blue Jays, and homered in his first at-bat on Friday night.
Rodriguez lined a single to right, before flying out to left, and popping up to second on Tuesday.
2011年8月17日星期三
Red Sox Settle For Split Against Rays
BOSTON — All things considered, the Boston Red Sox had to consider themselves fortunate to split Tuesday’s day-night double-header with the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Red Sox, playing both games without the injured David Ortiz and Marco Scutaro and resting a banged-up and sore Kevin Youkilis in the second game, collected only six hits on the day. With three hits in each game, they won the first 3-1 and fell 6-2 in the nightcap.
“We didn’t get a lot of hits today. Fortunately, we ended up getting a win in the first game, but they pitched us tough all day and the guy tomorrow will be real tough, too,” Boston manager Terry Francona said, looking ahead at facing David Price in Wednesday’s series finale.
Both James Shields and Jeff Niemann pitched three-hitters against the Red Sox, marking the fewest hits Boston has had in a double-header since collecting five in Baltimore way back on Sept. 2, 1974.
The split dropped the Red Sox a half-game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7 on Tuesday night.
Jacoby Ellsbury homered in both games, backing Jon Lester’s seven strong innings in the opener and then connecting for his career-best 22nd in a second game that saw the Red Sox turn a triple play but also help the Rays to five of their runs with fielding mishaps.
After the second game, Francona announced Ortiz will miss an undetermined amount of games because of bursitis in his right heel.
“He got an MRI and it showed the bursitis in his heel,” the manager said. “We’re going to get him out of his spikes for a couple of days, get him in a little bit of a walking boot, just to kind of alleviate some of the pressure.”
As far as how long Ortiz will be out, Francona said, “We’ll keep re-evaluating him, I’m sure, every couple of days, but we want to get him off that for a little while.
“It’s not going to be a DL but we’re going to have to keep him out there for a little bit and we don’t know what that (length of time) is.”
The highlight of a second game in which Erik Bedard fell to 0-1 in his third start with Boston (4-8 overall) was an around-the-horn triple play started by third baseman Jed Lowrie in the fourth inning.
With runners on first and second, Sean Rodriguez grounded to Lowrie. Lowrie stepped on third, threw to second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who then relayed on to Adrian Gonzalez to complete the club’s first triple play since John Valentin turned one by himself against Seattle July 8, 1994.
“At the time of the game, it’s a big play in the game,” said Francona. “It’s first and second, nobody out, they’ve got a chance to extend (the lead) and all of a sudden the inning’s over. We get off the field and it really cuts into the pitch count, probably gets him an extra inning to pitch.
“It was fun to watch.”
Lester improved to 12-6 and Jonathan Papelbon posted his 23rd straight save in the day game, while Jason Varitek homered in the night game. Bedard yielded just one earned run in six innings in Game 2.
“Pretty good,” Francona said. “Again, spinning that breaking ball really well. We didn’t help a lot at times. It’s not always just errors, it’s maybe the extra opportunities, things like that, but he’s continuing that progression of getting stronger, getting that pitch count up. He just fires strikes, with all his pitches.”
The Red Sox, playing both games without the injured David Ortiz and Marco Scutaro and resting a banged-up and sore Kevin Youkilis in the second game, collected only six hits on the day. With three hits in each game, they won the first 3-1 and fell 6-2 in the nightcap.
“We didn’t get a lot of hits today. Fortunately, we ended up getting a win in the first game, but they pitched us tough all day and the guy tomorrow will be real tough, too,” Boston manager Terry Francona said, looking ahead at facing David Price in Wednesday’s series finale.
Both James Shields and Jeff Niemann pitched three-hitters against the Red Sox, marking the fewest hits Boston has had in a double-header since collecting five in Baltimore way back on Sept. 2, 1974.
The split dropped the Red Sox a half-game behind the New York Yankees in the AL East. The Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals 9-7 on Tuesday night.
Jacoby Ellsbury homered in both games, backing Jon Lester’s seven strong innings in the opener and then connecting for his career-best 22nd in a second game that saw the Red Sox turn a triple play but also help the Rays to five of their runs with fielding mishaps.
After the second game, Francona announced Ortiz will miss an undetermined amount of games because of bursitis in his right heel.
“He got an MRI and it showed the bursitis in his heel,” the manager said. “We’re going to get him out of his spikes for a couple of days, get him in a little bit of a walking boot, just to kind of alleviate some of the pressure.”
As far as how long Ortiz will be out, Francona said, “We’ll keep re-evaluating him, I’m sure, every couple of days, but we want to get him off that for a little while.
“It’s not going to be a DL but we’re going to have to keep him out there for a little bit and we don’t know what that (length of time) is.”
The highlight of a second game in which Erik Bedard fell to 0-1 in his third start with Boston (4-8 overall) was an around-the-horn triple play started by third baseman Jed Lowrie in the fourth inning.
With runners on first and second, Sean Rodriguez grounded to Lowrie. Lowrie stepped on third, threw to second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who then relayed on to Adrian Gonzalez to complete the club’s first triple play since John Valentin turned one by himself against Seattle July 8, 1994.
“At the time of the game, it’s a big play in the game,” said Francona. “It’s first and second, nobody out, they’ve got a chance to extend (the lead) and all of a sudden the inning’s over. We get off the field and it really cuts into the pitch count, probably gets him an extra inning to pitch.
“It was fun to watch.”
Lester improved to 12-6 and Jonathan Papelbon posted his 23rd straight save in the day game, while Jason Varitek homered in the night game. Bedard yielded just one earned run in six innings in Game 2.
“Pretty good,” Francona said. “Again, spinning that breaking ball really well. We didn’t help a lot at times. It’s not always just errors, it’s maybe the extra opportunities, things like that, but he’s continuing that progression of getting stronger, getting that pitch count up. He just fires strikes, with all his pitches.”
2011年8月16日星期二
Latest Pennsylvania Sports
Arizona (Collmenter 7-7) at Philadelphia (Halladay 15-4), 7:05 p.m.
St. Louis (C.Carpenter 8-8) at Pittsburgh (Karstens 9-6), 7:05 p.m.
CARDINALS-PIRATES
Doumit hits 3-run homer to lead Pirates past Cards
PITTSBURGH (AP) Ryan Doumit went 4 for 4 and hit a tiebreaking three-run home run to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last night.
Doumit's homer in the fourth inning off Jake Westbrook (9-7) snapped a 1-1 tie and helped Pittsburgh break its three-game losing streak. The switch-hitting catcher matched a career high with his sixth four-hit game.
St. Louis, which had won three of its last four, fell 5½ games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers were hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.
Xavier Paul, who homered, and Neil Walker each had two hits for the Pirates, and James McDonald (8-6) pitched 5 2-3 uneven innings to end his three-start winless streak. McDonald allowed two runs and six hits while walking two and striking out four.
DRAFT DEADLINE
Cole and Pirates agree at $8 million
NEW YORK (AP) UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus.
Cole had been among 23 first-round draft picks facing a midnight deadline to reach agreements with major league teams.
Scott Boras, Cole's agent, also negotiated a $7.5 million signing bonus for high school outfielder Bubba Starling with the Kansas City Royals, and a $7.4 million, four-year major league contract for Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon with the Washington Nationals. Starling was the fifth overall pick and Rendon sixth.
PHILLIES-BUSH
Dave Bush signs minor league deal with Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Phillies have signed right-hander Dave Bush to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Bush made 17 appearances three starts for the Texas Rangers before being released July 6th. He was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA.
The 31-year-old Bush then signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs and went 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Iowa.
Bush is 56-69 in eight seasons with Toronto, Milwaukee and Texas. He was the winner in Game 3 of the 2008 division series for Milwaukee, against Philadelphia.
STEELERS-POUNCEY
Steelers C Pouncey makes quick rise to line leader
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) With all the injuries, position battles and chaos of shuffling players around the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line, the team considers itself fortunate to have a stable Pro Bowl anchor in the middle.
Even if this pillar of stability is only three weeks removed from his 22nd birthday.
Taken with the 18th pick of last year's draft, Maurkice Pouncey so impressed the Steelers early during training camp of his rookie year that he won the starting job at center. Almost immediately, Pouncey developed into one of the best of the league at his position.
Forget the sophomore slump, his teammates say. Still the second-youngest of the 90 players in Pittsburgh's camp, Pouncey has gone from 20-year-old draftee to respected, reliable team leader in a matter of 16 months.
"He's the spark on our offensive line," guard/center Doug Legursky said. "He's going to lead us."
He's being depended on to do just that for a unit that will have different starters at three of the four other positions from last season's Super Bowl team.
PENGUINS-CROSBY
Penguins still playing waiting game with Crosby
PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins have no plans on rushing star Sidney Crosby back to the ice.
General manager Ray Shero says it's too early to tell if Crosby will be ready when training camp begins next month. The former MVP hasn't played since being diagnosed with a concussion in January. He missed Pittsburgh's final 48 games, including a loss to Tampa Bay in the playoffs.
Crosby has spent the summer working out in Canada and Shero says the 24-year-old is "progressing well." Shero acknowledges Crosby continues to deal with symptoms related to the concussion, but added the issues have not forced him to stop training.
Shero expects Crosby to return to Pittsburgh a week before camp opens and says Crosby won't play until he is "100 percent."
KENTUCKY-BACK TO CLASS
Former 'Cats return to campus thinking academics
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Several former Kentucky stars currently in the NBA have returned to the campus that has become the lightning rod for the one-and-done rule under coach John Calipari. And they're not just planning to work out.
Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe who all turned pro after one season with the Wildcats say they are considering using the NBA lockout as a chance to take a few classes.
Bledsoe says he wants to complete his education because he can't play basketball all his life.
The trio is part of a group of former UK standouts playing two exhibition games against the Dominican Republic national team Calipari is coaching in an upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament.
LITTLE LEAGUE-PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania reaches LLWS
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) Pennsylvania is heading to the Little League World Series after defeating New Jersey.
Wyatt Koch hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, helping lead Keystone Little League of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, to a 5-2 win over the Paramus, New Jersey, team yesterday in Bristol, Connecticut.
Pennsylvania finished the tournament 6-0, winning the Mid-Atlantic Championship. The team now returns home for the Little League World Series, which starts Thursday in nearby South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The scoring came quickly yesterday after a scoreless 3 innings were rain-delayed Sunday.
The New Jersey team pulled within one run in the top of the fifth with a two-run homer from Nick DeNigris.
But Pennsylvania closer Tyler McCloskey added a run in the top of the sixth and Alex Garbrick followed with an RBI.
St. Louis (C.Carpenter 8-8) at Pittsburgh (Karstens 9-6), 7:05 p.m.
CARDINALS-PIRATES
Doumit hits 3-run homer to lead Pirates past Cards
PITTSBURGH (AP) Ryan Doumit went 4 for 4 and hit a tiebreaking three-run home run to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last night.
Doumit's homer in the fourth inning off Jake Westbrook (9-7) snapped a 1-1 tie and helped Pittsburgh break its three-game losing streak. The switch-hitting catcher matched a career high with his sixth four-hit game.
St. Louis, which had won three of its last four, fell 5½ games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers were hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers last night.
Xavier Paul, who homered, and Neil Walker each had two hits for the Pirates, and James McDonald (8-6) pitched 5 2-3 uneven innings to end his three-start winless streak. McDonald allowed two runs and six hits while walking two and striking out four.
DRAFT DEADLINE
Cole and Pirates agree at $8 million
NEW YORK (AP) UCLA pitcher Gerrit Cole and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a minor league contract with an $8 million signing bonus.
Cole had been among 23 first-round draft picks facing a midnight deadline to reach agreements with major league teams.
Scott Boras, Cole's agent, also negotiated a $7.5 million signing bonus for high school outfielder Bubba Starling with the Kansas City Royals, and a $7.4 million, four-year major league contract for Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon with the Washington Nationals. Starling was the fifth overall pick and Rendon sixth.
PHILLIES-BUSH
Dave Bush signs minor league deal with Phillies
PHILADELPHIA (AP) The Phillies have signed right-hander Dave Bush to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Bush made 17 appearances three starts for the Texas Rangers before being released July 6th. He was 0-1 with a 5.79 ERA.
The 31-year-old Bush then signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs and went 1-2 with a 6.14 ERA in five starts for Triple-A Iowa.
Bush is 56-69 in eight seasons with Toronto, Milwaukee and Texas. He was the winner in Game 3 of the 2008 division series for Milwaukee, against Philadelphia.
STEELERS-POUNCEY
Steelers C Pouncey makes quick rise to line leader
LATROBE, Pa. (AP) With all the injuries, position battles and chaos of shuffling players around the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line, the team considers itself fortunate to have a stable Pro Bowl anchor in the middle.
Even if this pillar of stability is only three weeks removed from his 22nd birthday.
Taken with the 18th pick of last year's draft, Maurkice Pouncey so impressed the Steelers early during training camp of his rookie year that he won the starting job at center. Almost immediately, Pouncey developed into one of the best of the league at his position.
Forget the sophomore slump, his teammates say. Still the second-youngest of the 90 players in Pittsburgh's camp, Pouncey has gone from 20-year-old draftee to respected, reliable team leader in a matter of 16 months.
"He's the spark on our offensive line," guard/center Doug Legursky said. "He's going to lead us."
He's being depended on to do just that for a unit that will have different starters at three of the four other positions from last season's Super Bowl team.
PENGUINS-CROSBY
Penguins still playing waiting game with Crosby
PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Penguins have no plans on rushing star Sidney Crosby back to the ice.
General manager Ray Shero says it's too early to tell if Crosby will be ready when training camp begins next month. The former MVP hasn't played since being diagnosed with a concussion in January. He missed Pittsburgh's final 48 games, including a loss to Tampa Bay in the playoffs.
Crosby has spent the summer working out in Canada and Shero says the 24-year-old is "progressing well." Shero acknowledges Crosby continues to deal with symptoms related to the concussion, but added the issues have not forced him to stop training.
Shero expects Crosby to return to Pittsburgh a week before camp opens and says Crosby won't play until he is "100 percent."
KENTUCKY-BACK TO CLASS
Former 'Cats return to campus thinking academics
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) Several former Kentucky stars currently in the NBA have returned to the campus that has become the lightning rod for the one-and-done rule under coach John Calipari. And they're not just planning to work out.
Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins and Los Angeles Clippers point guard Eric Bledsoe who all turned pro after one season with the Wildcats say they are considering using the NBA lockout as a chance to take a few classes.
Bledsoe says he wants to complete his education because he can't play basketball all his life.
The trio is part of a group of former UK standouts playing two exhibition games against the Dominican Republic national team Calipari is coaching in an upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament.
LITTLE LEAGUE-PENNSYLVANIA
Pennsylvania reaches LLWS
BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) Pennsylvania is heading to the Little League World Series after defeating New Jersey.
Wyatt Koch hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, helping lead Keystone Little League of Clinton County, Pennsylvania, to a 5-2 win over the Paramus, New Jersey, team yesterday in Bristol, Connecticut.
Pennsylvania finished the tournament 6-0, winning the Mid-Atlantic Championship. The team now returns home for the Little League World Series, which starts Thursday in nearby South Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
The scoring came quickly yesterday after a scoreless 3 innings were rain-delayed Sunday.
The New Jersey team pulled within one run in the top of the fifth with a two-run homer from Nick DeNigris.
But Pennsylvania closer Tyler McCloskey added a run in the top of the sixth and Alex Garbrick followed with an RBI.
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