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Category: Sports

Danny Salazar pitches Indians to win over Royals

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By DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

Whit Merrifield scores in the Royals game vs. Cleveland Tuesday. (Courtesy Kansas Ciiy Royals / Jason Hanna)
Whit Merrifield scores in the Royals game vs. Cleveland Tuesday. (Courtesy Kansas Ciiy Royals / Jason Hanna)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Danny Salazar handled the Royals for the third time this season, the Indians roughed up Kansas City’s starter-by-committee and Cleveland rolled to a 7-3 victory Tuesday night to even their three-game series.

Salazar (11-3) allowed three runs over 6 2-3 innings while striking out seven. His latest starring role against the Royals came after the right-hander tossed 7 2/3 shutout innings in a 7-1 victory in early May and allowed one run over eight innings in a 6-1 win last month.

Mike Napoli hit a two-run homer off Brian Flynn (1-1), and Carlos Santana drove in two runs off long reliever Dillon Gee, as the Indians snapped a five-game skid at Kauffman Stadium.

Francisco Lindor added a solo shot in the ninth for Cleveland.

The Flynn-Gee combo got the call for the Royals in place of ineffective fifth starter Chris Young. Flynn lasted 2 2/3 innings in his first start since August 2014, while Gee went the next 5 1/3 innings.

Then again, Cy Young would have had a tough time matching Salazar on another hot, humid night.

The right-hander didn’t allow a runner past first base through the first five innings, striking out Alex Gordon twice along the way. He seemed to falter in the oppressive weather in the sixth, when Salvador Perez drove in a run and Kendrys Morales scored on a wild pitch, but managed to escape the inning.

He gave up a sacrifice fly in the seventh before Kyle Crockett finished the frame.

Salazar pitched with the lead the entire way after Napoli’s homer in the first inning, his 21st of the year just skirting inside the left-field foul pole. But the rest of the Indians’ offense came from the same kind of small ball that carried the AL Central-rival Royals to the World Series title last season.

They scored a run in the second on a single, a walk and two sacrifices. The division-leaders added three more in the fifth on a double, three singles, a walk and a fielder’s choice.

HOT SEATS

Royals manager Ned Yost and Indians counterpart Terry Francona may change up their lineups for the finale on Wednesday. Temperatures are expected to approach 100 degrees for the afternoon start with a heat index well into triple digits. “We’re going to see tonight who needs a break,” Yost said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: OF Michael Brantley will have an MRI on Wednesday after experiencing pain in his right shoulder. He had surgery last November and played in only 11 games this season before landing back on the DL. Brantley has been on a rehab assignment at Double-A Akron since July 11.

Royals: RHP Kyle Zimmer, one of the club’s top prospects, has been diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome and will miss the rest of the season. The former first-round draft pick will have surgery in the coming weeks. The Mets’ Matt Harvey had surgery for the same condition Monday.

UP NEXT

The Royals’ Ian Kennedy is 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA in daytime starts this season. He goes against fellow right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is 4-2 with a 1.94 ERA in seven road starts.

Big 8th inning lifts Larks to comeback win

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BETHANY, Okla. – The Hays Larks scored seven runs in the eighth inning to rally past the Bethany Bulls 7-2 Tuesday evening at Dolese Park to extend their winning streak to seven games. The victory keeps the Larks in sole possession of first place in the Jayhawk League second half standings at 9-4.

Connor Ross and Josh Minjarez opened the big frame with back-to-back doubles. Ty Redington tied the game with a bunt single. Austin O’Brien added a two-run single to put the Larks (30-8, 26-8 JL) ahead for good.

The Bulls (11-23, 11-22 JL) scored single runs in the second and fifth and loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but reliever Ben Cilano (1-0) got out the jam when Anthony Gomez flied out to right field then Nate Olinger threw out Jamal Hughes at the plate for the inning ending double play.

Cilano (1-0) pitched one inning and picked up his first win of the season. Starter Alex Lopez allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and no strikeouts over six innings. Cole Hendrix threw two scoreless innings to close out the game.

Big 12 directs commissioner to evaluate expansion candidates

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By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

The Big 12 presidents have directed Commissioner Bob Bowlsby to evaluate schools that are interested in joining the conference, stopping just short of announcing it was committed to expansion.

After a meeting of the Big 12 university presidents and chancellors on Tuesday, Oklahoma President David Boren says the conference is still considering whether to add two or four teams to its 10 members.

The Big 12 has been a 10-team conference, the smallest of the Power Five leagues, since 2012. The conference has already announced it would bring back its football championship game in 2017 and likely break into divisions.

Numerous schools have been pitching the Big 12 behind the scenes for months, including much of the American Athletic Conference along with BYU, Colorado State and others.

Four Wildcats on preseason all-Big 12 team

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DALLAS (AP) – Four Kansas State defenders were named to the preseason All-Big 12 team selected by the media: linemen Will Geary and Jordan Wells, linebacker Elijah Lee and defensive back Dante Barnett. That’s not all that impresses Coach Bill Snyder about them.

Snyder told reporters Tuesday he likes the fact “they’re good, young people” and that they have a value system that allows them to be leaders. He says leadership is important to any college football program.

Dyson slam, Royals rally after Kluber cramps up, top Indians

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Jarrod Dyson hits his first career grand slam in the 8th inning Monday night. (Courtesy Kansas City Royals / Jason Hanna)
Jarrod Dyson hits his first career grand slam in the 8th inning Monday night. (Courtesy Kansas City Royals / Jason Hanna)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Jarrod Dyson hit a grand slam that capped a seven-run rally in the eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals broke loose after Corey Kluber cramped up, topping the Cleveland Indians 7-3 Monday night.

Kluber scattered five hits and took the mound to begin the eighth with a 2-0 lead. But manager Terry Francona and trainer James Quinlan came from the dugout and pulled Kluber before he could throw a pitch.

Kluber was suffering from a right calf cramp with the temperature at 90 degrees and the heat index 99 at the start of the game.

With Kluber out, the Royals roughed up relievers Bryan Shaw and Jeff Manship. Alcides Escobar and Eric Hosmer began the eighth with singles and both scored on Christian Colon’s pinch-hit double.

Colon squared around to bunt on the first two pitches, both balls. Colon then drove the next pitch to deep center tying it at 2.

With two outs, Shaw (1-4) walked Alex Gordon and Cheslor Cuthbert. Manship was summoned to face Paulo Orlando, who hit a go-ahead single. Whit Merrifield walked to load the bases before Dyson cleared them with his first career grand slam and his first home run of the season.

Kluber, tagged by the Royals for eight runs in five innings on June 15 at Kauffman Stadium, struck out eight and walked three in shutting them down. He has allowed two or fewer runs in four of his past five starts.

Francisco Lindor, who is hitting .439 with three home runs against the Royals this season, homered off Edinson Volquez in the first inning.

Luke Hochevar (2-2) worked a scoreless eighth to pick up the victory. After Chris Young gave up a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth, Wade Davis was called to get the final out, logging his 20th save in 22 chances.

ROYAL CLAIM TEPESCH

The Royals claimed RHP Nick Tepesch, a Kansas City native and a Missouri alum, off waivers from Oakland and optioned him to Triple-A Omaha. The Royals are his fourth organization this year. The other two are Texas and Los Angeles, making one big league start for the Dodgers. He is 8-3 with a 3.96 in 17 minor league starts this year.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Indians: C Yan Gomez was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder separation and is expected to be out six to eight weeks. C Roberto Perez, who has right thumb surgery in May, came off the DL and started. . RHP Zach McAllister (right hip discomfort) made a rehab appearance Monday for Triple-A Columbus, allowing one hit and no runs in one inning against Louisville.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen (rotator cuff inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day DL. . OF Lorenzo Cain (strained left hamstring) took fly balls in right field in pregame drills. “He’s much better today than he was yesterday, but still not quite there,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

UP NEXT

Indians: RHP Danny Salazar, who tops the American League with a 2.75 ERA, will start the middle game of the series.

Royals: LHP Brian Flynn makes his first start since Aug. 7, 2014, while with the Marlins. He is 1-0 with a 2.39 ERA in 13 relief appearances.

Bowlsby: Some in league feel Baylor scandal ‘sullied’ image

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DALLAS (AP) – Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby says there are members of the league’s board of directors who feel the sexual assault scandal at Baylor has sullied the image of the conference.

Bowlsby said Monday at the start of the league’s football media days that Baylor interim President David E. Garland and the chairman of the school’s board of regents will address the Big 12 board Tuesday in Dallas.

Baylor is reeling from allegations that its staff failed to properly handled accusations of sexual assault involving some of its former players. The school faces at least three lawsuits over the issue.

Bowlsby says Big 12 members are committed to “eradicating sexual assault” on campus. He says “it almost goes without saying that when you combine alcohol and drugs and raging hormones and the experiences of 18-22 years old, it’s probably unrealistic to think that these kinds of things are never going to happen.”

The Big 12 has asked Baylor for a full accounting relative to the alleged sexual assaults on campus and the university’s response to that situation.

VanVleet Signs Multi-Year Deal with Raptors

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Wichita State Athletics

Former Wichita State guard Fred VanVleet has signed a multi-year contract with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, the Raptors announced Monday afternoon. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

VanVleet will attend training camp with the Toronto this fall where he will compete for a spot on the team’s regular season roster. Preseason games run from Oct. 4-21, 2016.

The 6-foot point guard went undrafted in late June but was offered a spot on Toronto’s in the Las Vegas chapter of the NBA Summer League. In five games, he averaged 6.2 points in 16.0 minutes per game and impressed the team’s decision-makers with some of the same intangibles that brought him success at the collegiate level.

In an efficient stat line reminiscent of his four seasons at Wichita State, VanVleet hit 55 percent of his three-point attempts (6-of-11), banked eight assists, and tallied twice as many steals (6) as turnovers (3), while helping the Raptors to a 4-1 finish.

VanVleet joins Ron Baker — who agreed to a similar contract with the New York Knicks shortly after the draft — as former Shockers under contract heading into the 2016-17 preseason.

A year ago, ex-Shockers Cleanthony Early (New York), Toure’ Murry (Washington) and Nick Wiggins (Minnesota) earned spots on NBA preseason rosters.

Nicholson signs to play professionally in Romania

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Former Fort Hays State point guard Craig Nicholson has signed a contract to play professionally in Romania. Nicholson announced the news through social media Sunday. He will join CS Cuza Sport Braila, a professional club in the city of Braila, Romania, late this summer and early fall.

Nicholson was a four-time All-MIAA selection and a one-time All-America selection at Fort Hays State. He was also the MIAA Freshman of the Year and named to the Division II Bulletin All-Freshman Team in 2013.

Desite injuries which shortened his junior and senior seasons, Nicholson finished second in school history with 628 career assists, the most in FHSU’s Division II history. He ranks second with 161 career steals and is the school’s all-time leader in made free throws (481). His .803 career shooting percentage at the free-throw line ranks sixth in school history.

Larks sweep Wellington; take over first place in Jayhawk League

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HAYS – Starting pitcher Austin Isenhart and three releivers combine to hold Wellington to four hits and all nine Hays Larks had at least one hit as the Larks beat Wellington 9-3 to finish off four-game sweep Sunday night at Larks Park and move into first place in the Jayhawk League second half.

Frank Leo Postgame

Game Highlights

Isenhart (2-1) allowed two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk over six innings and picked up the win. Relievers Tyler Schwaner, Sam Reed and Graylon Brown combined for three innings of shutout ball. All four hold the Heat (17-22, 12-20 JL) without a hit past the third inning.

Nate Olinger led the Larks 14-hit attack, going 3-for-5 and drove in three. His bases loaded double, that was lost in the lights by Wellington right fielder Kendall Radcliffe in the eighth, blew the game open. Austin O’Brien, Connor Ross and newcomer Jeff Deimling all had two hits.

The Larks move a game ahead of Dodge City, Haysville and Liberal in the second half Jayhawk League race.

They open a six-game road trip with the first of three at Bethany on Tuesday. They will then play three in Derby over the weekend then return home where they will host Dodge City in two of their final three regular season games.

Clemens one of eight NBC Alumni to compete in Championship Week

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National Baseball Congress Release

WICHITA, Kan. – Kansas natives Nate Robertson and Adam LaRoche have put together an impressive roster of former big leaguers. The Kansas Stars, sponsored by the Kansas Star Casino will feature seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens. Clemens is one of 11 players on the team that was an MLB All-Star. 24 of the 25 players on the roster played in the Major Leagues. This is the first time in NBC World Series history 24 former Major Leaguers will be on one team.

Joining Clemens as NBC Alumni are Robertson, LaRoche, J.D. Drew, Dan Uggla, Jack Wilson, Koyie Hill and Ryan Kohlmeier.

MLB All-Stars: Tim Hudson (4), Ben Sheets (4), Roy Oswald (3), Dan Uggla (3), Josh Beckett (3), Brad Penny (2), Jason Isringhausen (2), J.D. Drew (2), Jack Wilson (1), Brandon Inge (1).

The Kansas Stars, sponsored by Kansas Star Casino will play in Championship Week of the 82nd NBC World Series. The Stars pool play games will be Saturday, August 6th at 9:30 pm, Monday, August 8th and Wednesday, August 10th , both at 7 pm.

1.       Adam LaRoche  LaRoche is a Fort Scott, KS native that played 12 seasons in the majors. He was a Gold Glove and Silver Slugger award winner ending with 255 career homeruns.
2.       Nate Robertson A Wichita KS native who stayed home to pitch for the Wichita State Shockers. Robertson played professionally for the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins and Philadelphia Phillies. He won 57 major league games and is currently the co-owner if the Wichita Wingnuts.
3.       Roger Clemens Clemens is an 11 time All-Star, 2 Time World Series Champion, 7 time Cy Young Award winner, 1996 MLB MVP, was a member of the MLB All-Century Team, 354 MLB Wins and 4,672 Strikeouts.
4.       Tim Hudson Hudson pitched 17 big league seasons and recorded 222 victories. During his career he was a 4 time All-Star, 2014 World Series Champion, 2010 NL Comeback Player of the Year, and the AL Wins Leader in 2000.
5.       Josh Beckett Beckett pitched 13 big league seasons, won 138 games and was a 2 time World Series Champion. He’s a 3 time All-Star, World Series MVP for the Marlins, 2007 ALCS MVP with Red Sox, 2007 MLB wins leader and tossed a no-hitter 5-25-14.
6.       Brad Penny Penny pitched 14 big league seasons, won 121 games and was a 2 time All-Star. He was a World Series Champion in 2003 and the 2006 NL Wins Leader.
7.       Roy Oswalt Oswalt pitched 13 big league seasons and won 163 games. He’s a 3 time All-Star, the 2005 NLCS MVP, 2004 NL wins leader and 2006 NL ERA leader.
8.       Ben Sheets Sheets was the 10th overall pick in the 1999 MLB Draft. He’s a 4 time All-Star, won 94 games in his 12 year big league career, struck out 1,325 batters and played for Team USA in the Summer Olympic Games.
9.       J.D. Drew Drew play at Florida State University where earned both the Dick Howser Award and Golden Spike Award in 1997. He played 14 big league seasons and had a lifetime batting average of .278 recording 242 homeruns. He was a World Series Champion in 2007 and an All-Star in 2008.
10.    Jason Isringhausen Isringhausen played 18 big league seasons and amassed 51 wins and 300 saves. He was a 2 time All-Star and the NL Saves Leader in 2004.
11.    Dan Uggla Uggla played 10 big league seasons and smashed 235 homeruns. He’s the only second baseman in MLB history to hit 30 homeruns or more in 4 consecutive seasons. He was a 3 time All-Star and a Silver Slugger Award winner in 2010.
12.    Jack Wilson Wilson played 13 years in the big leagues, is a Silver Slugger Award winner, and made the All-Star team in 2004 with the Pirates.
13.    Rick Ankiel Ankiel played 15 professional seasons, won 13 games as a pitcher and recorded 76 career homeruns.
14.    Brandon Inge Inge played 13 big league seasons, hit 152 homeruns, driving in 708 RBIs and was an MLB All-Star in 2009.
15.    Adam Everett Everett played in the big leagues for 10 seasons; he hit 40 homeruns and has 283 RBIs in his career.
16.    Laynce Nix In Nix 10 year professional career, he slugged 69 homeruns and recorded 248 RBIs.
17.    Brett Tomko Tomko won 100 games and had over 1,200 strikeouts in his 14 years as a pro.
18.    Pete Orr Orr played 7 professional seasons and had a career batting average of .257. He represented his home country of Canada in both the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.
19.    Koyie Hill Hill had a remarkable career at Wichita State University compiling a .384 batting average and 186 RBIs. In 1999 he played for Team USA and an 11 year professional career.
20.    Ryan Kohlmeier Kohlmeier is an Salina, KS native and played 4 professional seasons.
21.    Jayson Nix Nix played professional baseball for 8 years and recorded 38 homeruns.
22.    Ryan Langerhans Langerhans played 12 years of professional baseball and had 33 homeruns.
23.    Justin Germano Germano was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2000 and also played in Japan and Korea during his 11 year professional career.
24.    Koby Clemens Clemens was drafted in the 8th round by the Houston Astros and is the son of Roger Clemens.
25.    Barry Wesson Wesson was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 14th round in 1995.

Saltalamacchia’s HR in 9th gives Tigers walkoff win over Royals

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By NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Detroit Tigers a 4-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

After Tyler Collins hit a leadoff single in the ninth, Saltalamacchia won it with a drive off Joakim Soria (3-4) that easily cleared the wall in right field. The Detroit catcher raised his right arm in celebration almost immediately as he trotted toward first base.

Those were the only two RBIs of the day for Detroit. The Tigers scored their first two runs of the game on a balk and a wild pitch.

Francisco Rodriguez (1-0) pitched a perfect top of the ninth for the win.

Detroit rookie Michael Fulmer allowed two runs and six hits in eight innings. Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura allowed two runs and eight hits in seven innings.

Larks sweep Wellington; move into first place tie atop Jayhawk League

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HAYS – The Hays Larks scored four runs in the first inning and beat Wellington 4-1 to complete a doubleheader sweep of the Heat Saturday night at Larks Park. The Larks won game one 7-3.

Nate Olinger, Jacob Boston and Garrett McKinzie all drove in runs in the second game. Boston and O’Brien both had two hits to help the Larks (28-8, 24-8 JL) move into a first place tie with Haysville in the second half Jayhawk League race.

Keegan Curtis (1-0) picked up the win in his first start of the season. Curtis, who joined the team earlier in the week, scattered four hits over five innings with six strikeouts and one walk.

In the first game, which was a makeup of a rainout from earlier this season in Wellington and doesn’t count in the second half Jayhawk League standings, the Larks scored three in the fifth inning and two in the sixth to break open a one-run game and win despite being out hit. Nate Olinger had two hits and drove in two runs. Mikey Gangwish had two hits and scored two runs. Ryan Van Leeuwen allowed one run on six hits with four strikeouts and two walks over five innings and picked up the win.

The Larks go for the series sweep Sunday night at 7pm. It’s Harley Night with free admission courtesy of Golden Belt Bank, HOG chapter and Doerfler’s Harley Davidson. You can also hear the game on KAYS (1400-AM, 94.3-FM) beginning at 6:45pm.

Royals score 4 in big 1st inning, ease past Tigers

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By NOAH TRISTER
AP Baseball Writer

DETROIT (AP) — Salvador Perez singled, doubled, scored a run and drew two of Kansas City’s seven walks as the Royals eased to an 8-4 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night.

Kansas City scored four runs in the first inning off Mike Pelfrey, who didn’t make it out of the second. Every hitter in the Royals’ lineup scored exactly once except right fielder Paulo Orlando.

Danny Duffy (5-1) allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City. He struck out seven and walked one.

Ian Kinsler homered for Detroit, but the Tigers were facing a significant deficit before they even came up to bat for the first time. Pelfrey (2-9) allowed five runs, four hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings.

Royals closer Wade Davis pitched a perfect ninth in a non-save situation. He’d been out since June 30 with a right forearm strain.

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