Daily Clips
August 9, 2017
LOCAL
Vargas, 'pen roughed up by Cards in loss
August 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Robert Falkoff/MLB.com
Breaks go against KC in Cards' 6-run 5th
St. Louis benefits from few lucky bounces, pair of HRs
August 9, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Yost: Scuffling Gordon to sit 'more than a day'
KC's Gold Glove outfielder to work with hitting coach Sveum
August 9, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Cuthbert comes off DL; KC options Torres
August 8, 2017By Oliver Macklin/MLB.com
Cahill faces Cards, seeks 1st win with Royals
August 8, 2017By Robert Falkoff/MLB.com
Cardinals spoil Cheslor Cuthbert’s big return, rout Royals 10-3
August 8, 2017By Maria Torres/KC Star
The Royals’ inevitable, significant, and sad benching of Alex Gordon
August 8, 2017By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Royals manager Ned Yost benches Alex Gordon in effort to hit the reset button on season
August 8, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals reinstate Cheslor Cuthbert, option Ramon Torres to Omaha
August 8, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Why the Royals need to be the best defensive team in the American League
August 8, 2017By Lee Judge/KC Star
MINORS
Chasers Drop Doubleheader in Memphis, 3-1 & 4-2
Omaha take opener in Memphis, win 5th out of 6
August 8, 2017By Omaha Storm Chasers
Escalera Powers Naturals To Series Opening Win
Alfredo Escalera goes 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs in the 11-5 victory over Midland
August 9, 2017By Naturals PR Department
Rocks Start Road Trip With Loss
Wilmington Has Dropped Eight of Last Nine Away From Frawley Stadium
August 9, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Asheville overcomes early deficit for 9-7 win
August 8, 2017By Lexington Legends
Hunter Greene Triples In Pro Debut, Mustangs Lose 10-7 To Chukars
August 9, 2017By Billings Mustangs
Royals Split TwinbillWith Astros
Burlington falls 6-5 in game one; pitching leads to 3-1 win in nightcap
August 8, 2017By Matt Krause/Burlington Royals
MLB TRANSACTIONS
August 9, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Vargas, 'pen roughed up by Cards in loss
August 8, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan and Robert Falkoff/MLB.com
Right-hander Michael Wacha pitched six serviceable innings and the Cardinals put up a six-run inning for the second straight game on their way to another romp over the intrastate-rival Royals, this time 10-3 on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium.
The Cardinals, who beat the Royals, 11-3, on Monday, pulled within 2 1/2 games of the National League Central-leading Cubs. The Royals, who have lost seven of nine, fell four games behind the American League Central-leading Indians, though the Royals remained tied for the second AL Wild Card spot.
Wacha gave up six hits and three runs while walking two and striking out five. Yadier Molina, Jedd Gyorko and Randal Grichuk all homered for the Cardinals.
Royals starter Jason Vargas wobbled through 4 2/3 innings, giving up eight hits and six runs.
"I thought up until the fifth, Vargy was just Vargy," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Good changeup, dropping his curve in. But then that weird inning came in the fifth."
The Cardinals matched a club record by scoring double-digit runs in a third straight game. They last accomplished that feat April 9-11 of last season.
"If we could figure out what the key is, we'd never put that key away," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "I think it's contagious. There's a positive vibe."
Wacha had only the fourth-inning glitch when he allowed three runs. But the Cardinals bounced right back with the six-run inning and have explosive innings of nine, six and six runs in their past three games.
on six hits while striking out five batters against the Royals
"Michael was terrific today," Matheny said. "He established the curveball early and the cutter was good for him."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Game, set, match: Trailing 3-1, the Cardinals bounced right back when Grichuk opened the fifth with a home run to left. A hit batter, an infield single and another walk then loaded the bases with one out. Molina then chopped a grounder off the bag at third and the ball caromed into short left field as two runs scored. Jose Martinez was thrown out at third on Molina's hit, then a double by Dexter Fowler ended Vargas' night. The Royals, still in the game down 4-3, went to left-hander Mike Minor to face Gyorko, who promptly hit a three-run blast to left, tracked by Statcast™ at 420 feet.
"Right now, we're finding holes," Molina said.
"I liked the power [from Minor]," Yost said on why he opted for the left-handed Minor over right-hander Peter Moylan. "Mike has got that 94-mph fastball. He's been really good in that situation all year long.
"Peter was available. But I was saving Peter for the 2-3-4 hitters down the line, trying to get a little length there. I could have brought him in for one out, but I didn't mind Minor in that spot."
Welcome back, Cheslor: Backup third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, just activated from the disabled list earlier Tuesday, gave the Royals a jolt of life in the fourth. Trailing 1-0, Kansas City loaded the bases on a walk to Eric Hosmer, a bloop single by Melky Cabrera, and another walk to Jorge Bonifacio. Cuthbert, who singled in the third, then ripped a fastball into the left-field corner, clearing the bases and giving the Royals a brief 3-1 lead.
"I was just trying to get a good pitch to hit," Cuthbert said. "He gave me a heater and it's a good pitch for me. It feels good to be back playing with the boys and trying to get to the playoffs."
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Cardinals finished a three-city trip at 5-3. It's the first time they've had a multi-city winning road trip since May 5-10, when they went 6-0 at Atlanta and Miami.
WHAT'S NEXT
Cardinals: Right-hander Mike Leake (7-10, 3.34 ERA) will take the ball as the Cardinals return home for the 7:15 p.m. CT game. Leake worked against the Royals once in Interleague Play last year, going seven innings and allowing three runs (two earned) in a 4-2 St. Louis loss.
Royals: Right-hander Trevor Cahill (4-3, 4.13 ERA) takes the mound as the Royals as the home-and-home series switches to St. Louis on Wednesday. Cahill went 4 2/3 innings Thursday against Seattle, giving up six hits and two runs.
Breaks go against KC in Cards' 6-run 5th
St. Louis benefits from few lucky bounces, pair of HRs
August 9, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
For the second straight game, the Royals fell victim to a big inning that seemingly could have been prevented.
On Monday, a booted double-play ball aided a six-run outburst by the Cardinals in an 11-3 win. On Tuesday, a couple of strange and lucky singles, a hit batter, a couple of wild pitches and a couple of homers led to another six-run inning that led to a 10-3 Royals loss.
The Royals had just taken a 3-1 lead in the fourth on Cheslor Cuthbert's three-run double.
But Kansas City starter Jason Vargas served up a home run to Randal Grichuk in the fifth, then hit a batter, then made a perfect pitch to Tommy Pham, only to give up a cue-shot swinging bunt for a single. With one out, Vargas walked Jose Martinez.
Then Yadier Molina tapped a three-hopper down the third-base line that caromed off the base into short left field. Two runs scored, and the Cards had a 4-3 lead.
"You don't want to use it as an excuse, but perfect swinging bunt, and then perfect pitch to Molina and he rolls over and it hits the bag," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "When you're not going good, you're not getting the breaks, and we're definitely not going good."
After Vargas left, Yost opted for left-hander Mike Minor to face right-handed-hitting Jedd Gyorko, who blasted a three-run homer and it was 7-3.
Yost said afterward that Peter Moylan was available.
"Peter was available," Yost said. "But I was saving Peter for the 2-3-4 hitters down the line, trying to get a little length there. I could have brought him in for one out, but I didn't mind Minor in that spot."
Vargas was disappointed, bad luck and all, that he let the Cards back in it.
"That was one I felt I let get away," Vargas said. "I feel like I let it get away from the team. Some weird things happened. But with Cheslor coming up big the inning before, I just got to put a stop to that inning regardless of what happens. Frustrating one to let get away."
The Royals only a couple of weeks ago had a nine-game winning streak. They've now lost seven of nine.
"I think that looking at the standings is not that big of a deal," Vargas said. "We had some really good momentum. We have run into some speed bumps. But the guys in here have been through way bigger lows and way bigger highs, so I don't think anyone is too concerned. We just need to get back to doing some fundamental things and get momentum back in our direction."
Yost: Scuffling Gordon to sit 'more than a day'
KC's Gold Glove outfielder to work with hitting coach Sveum
August 9, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals manager Ned Yost said he will sit struggling Gold Glove left fielder Alex Gordon for an undisclosed period of time.
"He's scuffling," Yost said. "I'm going to give him more than a day."
Gordon entered Tuesday's game -- a 10-3 loss to the Cardinals -- hitting .197 with a .580 OPS. He has five home runs and 34 RBIs.
"I always try to give them as much rope as you can," Yost said of handling veteran players in a slump. "It's just been a struggle for him. This will give him time to reboot."
Rookie Jorge Bonifacio, hitting .256 with 14 home runs and 33 RBIs entering Tuesday, started in right field against the Cardinals while Melky Cabrera switched to left field, taking Gordon's place.
"Boni is obviously playing well," Gordon said quietly before Tuesday's game. "So I'd probably do it if I was the manager, too. I just need to go figure it out and start playing better. And don't put myself in these situations."
Yost said Gordon will spend the next couple of days working with batting coach Dale Sveum, searching for answers.
Gordon said he wouldn't elaborate on the plans.
"I'm not going to discuss it," Gordon said. "No point in going into details. Just do it and get it done."
Gordon entered Tuesday's game in the eighth, playing center field, and reached on a hit-by-pitch in his lone at-bat.
Cuthbert comes off DL; KC options Torres
August 8, 2017By Oliver Macklin/MLB.com
The Royals activated third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert from the 10-day disabled list and optioned infielder Ramon Torres to Triple-A Omaha, the club announced Tuesday.
Cuthbert, who went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Tuesday night's 10-3 loss to the Cardinals, had not appeared in a game for the Royals since June 25 while dealing with a left wrist sprain. The 24-year-old is batting .208 with one home run and 13 RBIs in 34 games for Kansas City this season.
Torres was hitting .242 with three doubles and three RBIs in 23 games for the big league club in 2017. He returns to Omaha, where he's hit .327 with five homers and 34 RBIs in 53 games for the Storm Chasers.
Cahill faces Cards, seeks 1st win with Royals
August 8, 2017By Robert Falkoff/MLB.com
After challenging each other for two games using designated hitters, the Cardinals and Royals will move across the state Wednesday to begin a two-game set in which the pitchers will have an opportunity to impact the outcome with a bat in their hands.
The I-70 Series continues, National League style, at Busch Stadium on Wednesday. Cardinals right-hander Mike Leake hasn't received a lot of offensive support this season, so St. Louis hitters will attempt to turn that around. Leake has the third-lowest run support average (4.14) in the NL. But Leake has been durable with 22 starts and his 3.34 ERA ranks 10th in the NL.
Meanwhile, Royals right-hander Trevor Cahill is looking to make an impression after being acquired from San Diego in a July 24 trade. Cahill will be making his third start for Kansas City. He took a no-decision in his last outing, working 4 2/3 innings in a 6-4 Royals win over the Mariners.
Three things to know about this game
• Cahill is 1-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 outings (five starts) against the Cardinals. He has held opponents to a .224 batting average this season. He threw about 41 percent of his pitches to the upper two-thirds of the strike zone or above with the Padres. But that has climbed to more than 60 percent in two starts for the Royals. Twelve of the 14 hits Cahill has allowed in those games have come on those high pitches.
• Leake will be facing the Royals for the second time. Last year at Busch Stadium, Leake allowed three runs (two earned) over seven innings, but took the loss.
• The Royals won both their games at Busch Stadium last year, 3-2 in 12 innings and 4-2. Both games drew more than 44,000 fans.
Cardinals spoil Cheslor Cuthbert’s big return, rout Royals 10-3
August 8, 2017By Maria Torres/KC Star
For the briefest moment, Cheslor Cuthbert’s return to the Royals’ 25-man roster appeared to be the solution to team’s recent malaise.
After missing a month and a half of major-league action due to a left wrist sprain, Cuthbert was recalled before Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals and immediately penciled in at third base. He went 2 for 4 with a three-run double, giving the Royals their first lead of the I-70 series in the fourth inning.
Try as he might, Cuthbert couldn’t save the Royals.
All-Star starter Jason Vargas was unable to make it out of the fifth inning, the defense suffered a few more malfunctions and the Royals ended a six-game homestand with a 10-3 loss to the Cardinals.
“When things aren’t going good, you’re not getting breaks, and that’s part of the reason why you’re not going good,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’re definitely not getting breaks, but we’re not really making our own breaks either.”
The most common denominator among the Royals’ mishaps on Tuesday evening was Jorge Bonifacio. The rookie right fielder made a late jump on a ball hit by the Cardinals’ Dexter Fowler in the fifth inning, allowing it to drop over his head and dribble toward the warning track for a two-out double.
“He broke in and then went back,” Yost said. “He misplayed that ball.”
Fowler would then score on a three-run homer off the bat of Jedd Gyorko, who drilled reliever Mike Minor’s fifth pitch of the game 420 feet to left field for a 7-3 Cardinals lead.
In the seventh inning, Randal Grichuk hit a two-out single to right field with runners on first and second. Bonifacio sailed a throw over jumping reliever Neftali Feliz, who was supposed to back up home plate but tried to cut off the play, and past catcher Drew Butera at the third base line.
A second run scored as Butera scurried after the errant throw. Grichuk then came home on a Matt Carpenter double.
The error was charged to Bonifacio, but officials after the game said that Butera might have had a play at the plate if Feliz hadn’t deflected the ball. Feliz took the error instead.
Grichuk had set the Cardinals up in the fifth inning, dooming the Royals with a leadoff home run. Three of the next four batters reached base safely, including Tommy Pham, who softly hit a ball up the first base line.
Butera went after the ball but made no play, allowing Matt Carpenter to reach third and Pham to reach first.
“That ball was more than halfway down the line. By the time he got to it, the runner was right there at the bag anyway,” Yost said. “It was just a really weird inning.”
Later, Yadier Molina, who hit a leadoff home run the previous inning, chopped a ground ball up the third base side that skipped high over the bag. It landed beyond Cuthbert, who dove into foul territory trying to trap the bases-loaded hit.
Shortstop Alcides Escobar corralled the ball just outside the infield dirt and rocketed a throw to Cuthbert at third to get the Cardinals’ Jose Martinez as he slid into the bag.
Still, two runs scored on the play. All three runs Cuthbert had driven in against the Cardinals’ Michael Wacha to give Vargas room to breathe went for naught, for Wacha allowed only two more hits and the Cardinals’ bullpen shut the Royals’ offense down.
“I feel like I just let it get away from the team right there in that fifth inning,” Vargas said. “Some weird things happened. But with Cheslor coming up big the half-inning before, there’s just got to be a stop put to that inning regardless of what happens. It’s just a frustrating one to let get away.”