Daily Clips
May 26, 2017
LOCAL
Thursday's Royals-Yanks matchup postponed
May 25, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Kennedy aims to rebound in opener vs. Tribe
May 25, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals’ series finale against the Yankees is postponed
May 25, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Five things to know about Royals catcher Salvador Perez
May 25, 2017By Jeff Patterson/KC Star
MINORS
Chasers End Scoreless Streak, Down Sounds 8-4
4 Omaha hitters enjoy multi-hit nights in Chasers victory
May 25, 2017By Omaha Storm Chasers
Naturals Fall In Series Finale As Frisco Secures Sweep
JuremiProfar of the RoughRiders goes 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in the 5-3 win
May 25, 2017By Naturals PR Department
Wilmington and Lynchburg Postponed
Rocks Rained Out for Fourth Time This Season
May 25, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
Columbia scores three in first, wins 3-2
May 25, 2017By Lexington Legends
MLB TRANSACTIONS
May 26, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Thursday's Royals-Yanks matchup postponed
May 25, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Rain postponed the Royals-Yankees game scheduled for Thursday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
The game has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 25, at Yankee Stadium. The start time has not been determined.
The Royals will have just concluded a 10-game road trip that ends in Chicago before returning home for a season-ending regular-season six-game homestand starting Sept. 26.
Thursday's postponement could be a break for manager Ned Yost and the Royals' starting pitching situation. Kansas City would have been searching for a starter on Tuesday because right-hander Nate Karns isn't eligible to return from the disabled list until Wednesday.
Rookie right-hander Miguel Almonte was scheduled to make his first Major League start on Thursday, with right-hander Ian Kennedy scheduled for a Friday start. The Royals confirmed they will keep Kennedy on his regular schedule Friday. Almonte could be pushed back to Tuesday, when Kansas City is home against Detroit.
Kennedy aims to rebound in opener vs. Tribe
May 25, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals right-hander Ian Kennedy will look to bounce back from a shaky start last Sunday in Minnesota as the Royals open a three-game series against the Indians at Progressive Field on Friday. Right-hander Mike Clevinger, who was pushed back after Thursday's rainout in Cleveland, will oppose Kennedy for the Tribe.
Kennedy (0-4, 4.06 ERA) came off the disabled list Sunday after recovering from a strained right hamstring, and he gave up five runs in two innings vs. the Twins before manager Ned Yost pulled him. Kennedy has not fared well against the Indians over his career (2-4, 5.19 ERA), but he has pitched slightly better at Progressive Field (1-2, 4.18 ERA).
Clevinger (2-1, 1.56 ERA) flirted with a no-hitter in his last start against the MLB-leading Astros, tossing seven scoreless innings. He's 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three career games (two starts) vs. the Royals.
Things to know about this game
• Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield is on a career-high 10-game hitting streak. He is hitting .351 during that stretch with a .909 OPS.
• Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar is mired in a season-long slump -- batting .180 with a .444 OPS. But he showed signs of coming out of it Wednesday in New York, getting a single and flying out to the wall in center field. Statcast estimated that flyout would have traveled 413 feet, his second-longest drive in the Statcast era.
• The Indians placed Lonnie Chisenhall on the 7-day concussion DL on Thursday, but they did not announce a corresponding move. The likely candidate to fill the team's vacant roster spot before Friday's game is Austin Jackson. The outfielder is close to returning from a left big toe injury that sidelined him for most of May.
Royals’ series finale against the Yankees is postponed
May 25, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
The Royals’ series finale against the New York Yankees on Thursday afternoon has been postponed because of inclement weather, the Yankees announced Thursday morning.
The game has been rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 25 at Yankee Stadium. The start time is still to be determined. The Royals lost two of three here in New York, falling to 19-27 on the season. They will continue what will now be a nine-game road trip against the Cleveland Indians on Friday night at Progressive Field.
Rookie right-hander Miguel Almonte was scheduled to make his first career start on Thursday. Instead, Ian Kennedy will start on regular rest Friday and the Royals have Jason Vargas scheduled to start on Saturday and Danny Duffy on Sunday. Jason Hammel would be next up in the rotation Monday, when the Royals open a series against the Detroit Tigers at Kauffman Stadium, and Almonte’s first start could be pushed back to Tuesday.
Almonte was needed in the rotation after Nathan Karns was placed on the 10-day disabled list on Wednesday. Karns is eligible to return Wednesday.
According to a Yankees news release, fans with paid tickets for Thursday’s postponed game can use them for the rescheduled game or exchange their paid tickets for any regular-season game at Yankee Stadium within 12 months of the postponed game.
Five things to know about Royals catcher Salvador Perez
May 25, 2017By Jeff Patterson/KC Star
The Royals signed Salvador Perez as a 16-year-old catcher out of Valencia, the third-largest city in Venezuela, in 2006.
Here are five things to know:
1. Giving new meaning to can of corn
Growing up in Valencia on the northern coast of Venezuela, Perez took batting practice from his mother, Yilda Diaz. She would pitch him corn kernels that he’d smack with a broomstick. “She helped me with everything,” Perez told The Star in 2013.
2. An all-around perfect catch
During his time in the minors, Perez dazzled with his arm (throwing out 42 percent of would-be base stealers). After making his MLB debut on Aug. 10, 2011, he hit .331 in 39 games. It was clear to many the Royals had an All-Star in the making.
3. A hit that changed a city’s fortunes
The 2014 AL Wild Card Game was a 12-inning Greek play. The Royals were making their first playoff appearance since winning the 1985 title. Perez capped one last rally with a two-out RBI single to ignite a run to Game 7 of the World Series.
4. Making a splash in KC
You can’t celebrate a big Royals victory without seeing Perez lurking behind a teammate, waiting to dump the contents of a Gatorade bucket on his head. It’s been honored on billboards, T-shirts and even to reveal a baby’s gender.
5. Shined in both World Series appearances
One year after hitting .333 in the World Series against the Giants, Perez stepped up his game even more in 2015 against the Mets. He earned the MVP award after hitting .364 in five games as the Royals won their first title since 1985.
MINORS
Chasers End Scoreless Streak, Down Sounds 8-4
4 Omaha hitters enjoy multi-hit nights in Chasers victory
May 25, 2017By Omaha Storm Chasers
After enduring back-to-back shutouts, the Storm Chasers broke out offensively for an 8-4 win over Nashville on Thursday night at First Tennessee Park.
Omaha ended a 19-inning scoreless drought by plating a run in the top of the 2nd. Consecutive singles by Ryan O'Hearn, Bubba Starling, and Cam Gallagher loaded the bases, and GarinCecchini hit into a fielder's choice to score O'Hearn, giving Omaha a 1-0 lead.
Joey Wendle immediately tied it in the bottom of the 2nd, leading off with a home run against YenderCaramo.
The Chasers regained the advantage in the top of the 4th. Ryan O'Hearn drew a 1-out walk, Bubba Starling doubled, and Cam Gallagher doubled both of them home to put Omaha in front 3-1.
Raul Alcantara (L, 0-2) allowed 3 runs on 6 hits over 4 innings; he struck out 2 and walked 1.
Omaha poured on 3 more in the 5th inning against reliever Felix Doubront. Raul Mondesi singled, Dean Anna walked, and Frank Schwindel reached on a costly error by Sounds shortstop Franklin Barreto. Barreto's throw sailed wildly down the right field line, allowing both Mondesi and Anna to circle the bases, and leaving Schwindel at 2nd. Schwindel advanced to 3rd on a passed ball, and scored on another hit by Ryan O'Hearn.
YenderCaramo, continuing his fill-in stint in the Omaha rotation, gave the Chasers another strong effort. He was lifted after 4.2 innings, having allowed just 1 run on 5 hits, with 3 strikeouts and no walks.
Matt Chapman pulled a run back for Nashville in the bottom of the 6th, as he homered to left against Eric Stout.
Bobby Parnell endured a difficult outing in the bottom of the 7th; he walked all 4 batters that he faced, issuing free passes to Ryan Lavarnway, Chris Parmelee, Matt McBride, and Ryan LaMarre. Kevin McCarthy replaced Parnell, and did well to limit Nashville to just 1 more run in the inning. He induced a double play and a groundout to keep Omaha ahead 6-4.
McCarthy issued 2 walks of his own in the bottom of the 8th, but again stranded the tying runs on base by retiring Chris Parmelee on a fly ball.
Frank Schwindel padded Omaha's lead with a clutch 2-run hit in the top of the 9th. Following an error that allowed Corey Toups to reach, a sacrifice bunt by Billy Burns, a groundout, and a walk and stolen base by Dean Anna, Schwindel roped a double down the left field line to give the Chasers some breathing room again.
Malcom Culver worked a scoreless bottom of the 9th to close out the win, and move Omaha back to .500 overall (23-23).
The Chasers will finish the series in Nashville tomorrow night. Omaha will send RHP Jake Junis (1-2, 3.07) to the mound, while Nashville will counter with RHP Jharel Cotton (2-0, 2.25). First pitch will be at 6:35.
Naturals Fall In Series Finale As Frisco Secures Sweep
JuremiProfar of the RoughRiders goes 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in the 5-3 win
May 25, 2017 By Naturals PR Department
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals (22-23) would fall in the series finale on Thursday night as the Frisco RoughRiders (22-25) secured the three (3) game sweep with a 5-3 win at Arvest Ballpark. JuremiProfar led the way on offense for the visitor's from the South Division as he went 4-for-4 with a home run and a double to go along with four RBI on the night.
Each offense got started early in the series finale as the two teams traded runs in the first frame. Frisco used some two out hitting to plate their run as Profar started his night by driving in Jose Cardona , whom had tripled a batter earlier, with a run-scoring single. Northwest Arkansas would answer though as Ruben Sosa, Jr. led off the first with a solo homer to tie it at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the fifth inning when Profar would deliver again for the RoughRiders with another clutch, two-out hit as the hot-hitting third baseman lined a double down the left-field line to plate a pair to give the visitor's a 3-1 advantage. The Naturals would claw back with a run in the sixth after Alfredo Escalera led off the inning with a single and then stole second. With Escalera at second and one out, Mauricio Ramos put the Naturals within a run at 3-2 with a RBI single to left-field.
Frisco extended the lead to 5-2 after a solo home run by Profar in the eighth and another run in the ninth before Northwest Arkansas completed the scoring in the final frame with a run on a RBI fielder's choice by Humberto Arteaga to set the final score at 5-3. Ramos remained an offensive bright spot for Northwest Arkansas as he went 3-for-4 for the second straight game.
Both starting pitchers gave their team a solid effort on Thursday night. RHP Ashton Goudeau (L, 2-4) of the Naturals collected a quality start with 6.0 innings of three-run baseball as the lengthy righty scattered eight hits to go along with a strikeout. RHP Ariel Jurado (W, 5-3), his counterpart and highly regarded Rangers prospect, was as good as advertised as he tossed 6.0 innings of two-run baseball before the bullpen combination of LHP Joe Filomeno (H, 2) and RHP Reed Garrett (S, 4) sealed the victory.
Northwest Arkansas will continue their homestand tomorrow night - Friday, May 26 - by welcoming the Midland RockHounds (Double-A Oakland Athletics) to Arvest Ballpark with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. It's Strike & Sinker's Mascot Party with Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular by Farm Rich, which is the first of three (3) consecutive nights of fireworks at Arvest Ballpark for Memorial Day weekend. The visiting RockHounds will send RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-2, 3.20 ERA) to the mound while the Naturals will counter with RHP Zach Lovvorn (2-3, 3.29 ERA).
Wilmington and Lynchburg Postponed
Rocks Rained Out for Fourth Time This Season
May 25, 2017By Wilmington Blue Rocks
The game between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Lynchburg Hillcats for Thursday, May 25, 2017 has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader during the next meeting between the two teams in Lynchburg when the Rocks visit the Hillcats on June 12-14. Tickets for the Thursday, May 25 game can be exchanged for tomorrow's resumption of a suspended game between Wilmington and Potomac and for the seven-inning game that follows or for any home game within one (1) calendar year subject to availability.
Wilmington welcomes the Potomac Nationals to Frawley Stadium on Friday, May 26. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. with the game resuming in the top of the fourth inning in part to make up the regularly scheduled game which was suspended at Potomac on May 18. A seven-inning game will follow.
Columbia scores three in first, wins 3-2
May 25, 2017By Lexington Legends
The Columbia Fireflies scored three runs in the first inning and then held on for a 3-2 win over the Lexington Legends in front of 7,590 fans Thursday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Lexington starter Ofreidy Gomez struck out the first two batters in the first inning, but Michael Paez drew a walk and scored on a double by Dash Winningham. Luis Carpio and Tim Tebow also walked, loading the bases, and Jay Jabs followed with a double to right field, scoring Winningham and Carpio.
Tebow, the Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback, played left field and batted sixth for Columbia. In addition to the walk, he grounded out and struck out twice in four plate appearances.
The Legends scored both of their runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Emmanuel Rivera singled and scored on a double by Meibrys Viloria. After John Brontsema walked, Joe Dudek singled, scoring Viloria with the second run.
Columbia starter Merandy Gonzalez (6-1) pitched six innings and got the win. Adonis Uceta worked the seventh and eighth, and Max Kuhns retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his second save. Tebow made a diving catch on a line drive hit by Manny Olloque for the final out in the bottom of the ninth.
Game two of the four-game series will be played Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
MLB TRANSACTIONS
May 26, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
TEAM / PLAYER / TRANSACTION
Detroit Tigers / James McCann / Placed on 10-Day DL, (Left hand laceration)
Detroit Tigers / John Hicks / Called Up from Minors
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017
TEAM / PLAYER / TRANSACTION
Atlanta Braves / Matt Wisler / Called Up from Minors
Atlanta Braves / Josh Collmenter / Designated for Assignment
Baltimore Orioles / Henry Urrutia / Released
Cincinnati Reds / Peter O'Brien / Designated for Assignment
Cincinnati Reds / Jake Buchanan / Acquired Off Waivers From from Cubs, Chi. Cubs
Cincinnati Reds / Amir Garrett / Placed on 10-Day DL, (Right hip inflammation)
Cleveland Indians / Lonnie Chisenhall / Placed on 7-Day DL, (Concussion)
Los Angeles Angels / Daniel Wright / Called Up from Minors
Los Angeles Angels / Brooks Pounders / Sent to Minors
Los Angeles Dodgers / Luis Avilan / Placed on 10-Day DL, (Sore left triceps)
Los Angeles Dodgers / Joc Pederson / Placed on 7-Day DL, (Concussion)
Los Angeles Dodgers / Kenta Maeda / Removed From 10-Day DL, (Hamstring tightness)
Los Angeles Dodgers / Kenta Maeda / Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment
Los Angeles Dodgers / Adam Liberatore / Removed From 10-Day DL, (Left groin strain)
Los Angeles Dodgers / Adam Liberatore / Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment
New York Mets / Asdrúbal Cabrera / Removed From 10-Day DL, (Sprained left thumb)
New York Mets / Asdrúbal Cabrera / Recalled From Minors, Rehab Assignment
New York Mets / Kevin Plawecki / Sent to Minors
New York Yankees / Jacoby Ellsbury / Placed on 7-Day DL, (Concussion)
New York Yankees / Rob Refsnyder / Called Up from Minors
Philadelphia Phillies / Jeanmar Gómez / Removed From 10-Day DL, (Right elbow impingement)