KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Moustakas homered and drove in four runs to help the Kansas City Royals rally from five runs down to beat the Baltimore Orioles 9-8 Sunday.

Jorge Soler and Drew Butera also homered for the Royals. Soler’s 464-foot shot to center leading off the seventh was the longest by a Kansas City player this season.

The Royals have won four straight, matching a season high, and six of seven since moving Alcides Escobar to the leadoff spot.

Moustakas homered off Kevin Gausman with Butera and Escobar aboard in a five-run fourth when the Royals sent 11 men to the plate.

Chris Davis reached base five times on a solo homer, RBI single and three walks. Caleb Joseph had a two-run shot in Baltimore’s four-run fourth.

Matt Strahm (1-2), the second of seven Royals pitchers, picked up the victory. Kelvin Herrera finished up for his eighth save in nine chances.

Richard Bleier (0-1) took the loss.

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ HCC SPORTS INFORMATION ]

Photo courtesy of HCC Sports Information

WICHITA, Kan. — Sophomore Nolan Hoffman tossed a complete-game four hitter and the No. 3-ranked Hutchinson Community College Baseball Team won only its second Region VI Tournament opening-round game since winning it all in 2010.

The Blue Dragons extended their team-record winning streak to 20 games on Friday night with a 7-1 opening-round victory over the Kansas City Blue Devils at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Improving to 46-11 overall, the Jayhawk West champion Blue Dragons will play either Johnson County or Dodge City in Saturday’s 7 p.m. winner’s bracket semifinal.

The Blue Dragons also snapped a two-game postseason losing streak to Kansas City, avenging last year’s opening-round loss to the Blue Devils.

Hoffman worked his fourth complete game of the season, his first nine-inning complete game, in a dominant performance. He allowed only an unearned run in the fifth inning and just four hits and no walks in the game. Hoffman struck out five. He threw 122 pitches, 81 were for strikes.

After allowing that run in the fifth, Hoffman retired 12 of the final 13 Blue Devils he faced in the game.

After leaving the bases loaded in the first inning, the Blue Dragons broke through in the third inning when Brady Hoover lined a bases-loaded two-run single in the third inning for a 2-0 lead.

One inning, later, freshman Bobby Morgensen made a bit of Blue Dragon history. With his two-out, two-run double that scored Shane Cooper and Michael Helman, Morgensen drove in his 85th and 86th RBIs for the season, which tied Hutch’s single-season record for RBIs.

Morgensen then scored on Nolan Hakel’s triple of left-center to make to 5-0 after four innings.

The Dragons tacked on two more runs in the seventh when Caden Doga singled through a drawn-in infield and Wyatt Divis had an RBI groundout.

The Blue Dragons had nine hits against the Blue Devils. Morgensen was 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead Hutchinson. Hakel and Hoover also had two hits each. Hoover also drove in a pair of runs.

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ HCC SPORTS INFORMATION ]

Photo courtesy of HCC Sports Information

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The No. 3-ranked Hutchinson Community College Baseball Team opens the second leg of its tournament for a return to Grand Junction on Friday when the Blue Dragon open the Wichita portion of the Region VI Tournament at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.

Riding a school-record 19-game winning streak into Wichita, the Blue Dragons (45-11) take on Kansas City (40-19) at 4 p.m. in the third of four opening-round games on Friday.

Hutchinson advanced to Wichita for the second-straight season after a 2-0 opening-round series sweep of Labette last weekend at Hobart-Detter Field. Kansas City, the fourth-place team from the Jayhawk East this season, needed a decisive third game to eliminate Garden City. The Blue Devils defeated Garden City 7-6 in Game 3 on Sunday in Kansas City.

This is a rematch of an opening-round game in Wichita in which the Blue Devils defeated the Blue Dragons 4-2.

The 2017 Jayhawk West champion Blue Dragons are looking for their fourth overall Region VI championship and the first since 2010, when Hutchinson finished third in Grand Junction.

The Blue Dragons are one of two teams in the field ranked in the NJCAA national Division I baseball rankings. Johnson County, a potential Blue Dragon semifinal opponent, is ranked No. 14. Jayhawk East champion Cowley is receiving votes in the latest rankings.

Hutchinson has had an exceptional year offensively in 2017. As a team, the Blue Dragons are hitting .347, which is ninth in the NJCAA. The Dragons team-record 91 home runs rank fourth in the nation and their .591 slugging percentage is seventh in the country.

The Blue Dragons carry a 4.80 team earned-run average into the Region VI Tournament and are a .960 fielding team.

Sophomore second-baseman Michael Helman leads the nation with a .505 batting average. He has 17 home runs and 72 RBIs with 27 stolen bases. Wyatt Divis is among the hottest Blue Dragons, how hitting .403. Bobby Morgensen is hitting .379 with 84 RBIs.

Sophomore pitcher Nolan Hoffman brings a 7-1 record with a 4.19 ERA into the tournament. Freshman Zach Moore is 8-0 with a 3.54 ERA and Divis is 5-2 with a 3.76 ERA. Dayden Lane has a team-high seven saves with a 3-1 record and a 3.00 ERA. Jaden Simmons is 5-0 with three saves and a 4.01 ERA.

Kansas City its 10^th in the NJCAA in total hits (606) and is hitting .329 as a team with 43 home runs. The Blue Devils have a 4.73 team ERA and a .961 team fielding percentage.

Alex Phillips leads KCK with a .421 batting average with 10 home runs and 71 RBIs. Tyler Pittman is hitting .398 and has 31 stolen bases. Rorey Combs it hitting .375.

The Blue Dragons are 0-2 against Kansas City, also losing in 2008, since Region VI went to the current format in 2004.

 

2017 REGION VI TOURNAMENT – DAY 1
When: Friday, May 12, 20176
Where: Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Wichita, KS
10 a.m. – Barton (42-16) vs. Neosho County (39-20)
1 p.m. – Fort Scott (37-22) vs. Cowley (39-16)
4 p.m. – Hutchinson (45-11) vs. Kansas City (40-19)
7 p.m. – Johnson County (44-14) vs. Dodge City (38-17-1)
Hutch Live Video : Blue Dragon Sports Network, 3:45 p.m.
Twitter: @bluedragonsport

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Major league ERA leader Jason Vargas went seven more scoreless innings, Salvador Perez had a two-run double during a five-run eighth inning and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-0 on Thursday.

Vargas (5-1) scattered three hits and dropped his ERA from 1.19 to 1.01.

Jorge Bonifacio hit an RBI single off Diego Moreno in the decisive eighth before Whit Merrifield had a run-scoring single and then circled the bases when center fielder Kevin Kiermaier misplayed the hit for a three-base error.

Merrifield also homered for the Royals, who won three of four against the Rays. Kansas City had lost 13 of 16 entering the series.

Jake Odorizzi (2-2) gave up one run and four hits in six innings for the Rays. He had allowed three hits or fewer in each of his previous four starts.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Chris Archer pitched eight shutout innings Wednesday night and Logan Morrison, Rickie Weeks Jr., and Colby Rasmus homered for the Tampa Bay Rays in a 12-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals.

Archer (3-1) won for the first time in five starts since April 14 to help the Rays break a three-game losing streak. He scattered five singles and walked none.

Morrison’s ninth homer of the season, and his fourth in seven games, came off Kansas City starter Jason Hammel with a man on in the third inning. Weeks followed with his second home run, putting the Rays up 4-0.

Rasmus hit a grand slam off reliever Peter Moylan in he eighth, the sixth slam of his career.

Everyone in the Tampa Bay lineup had at least one hit for the second straight day. Corey Dickerson had a triple and a single and scored three runs.

Hammel (1-4) gave up six earned runs and 13 hits in seven innings, dropping to 0-6 in his last seven road starts.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Mike Moustakas homered in the 12th inning, and the Kansas City Royals came back from a four-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Moustakas connected against Diego Moreno (0-1), the eighth Tampa Bay pitcher, on a 1-2 pitch with one out. Moreno was promoted from Triple-A Durham before the game.

Kansas City right-hander Jakob Junis (1-0), recalled from Triple-A Omaha, worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the 11th. Kelvin Herrera got three outs for his fifth save.

Salvador Perez had a two-run homer for the Royals. The All-Star catcher went 3 for 4 and walked twice.

[ By STEVE CARPENTER ]

[ HCC SPORTS INFORMATION ]

Photo courtesy of HCC Sports Information

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For the third-straight week, the Hutchinson Community College baseball team reached its highest ranking ever in the NJCAA National Rankings.

The Jayhawk West champion Blue Dragons are now No. 3 in the latest rankings, up one spot from last week.

After sweeping Labette last weekend in the Region VI Tournament at Hobart-Detter Field, the Blue Dragons will now take on Kansas City in an opening-round matchup of the Region VI Tournament at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita. Hutch and KCK will be the third game of the day scheduled for 4 p.m.

Two weeks ago, the Blue Dragons reached their highest ranking in team history with a ranking of No. 6. That mark improved to No. 4 last week. With previous No. 1 McLennan losing last week, the Blue Dragons move up again to No. 3.

Chipola regains the top spot in the rankings, garnering all 10 first-place votes. Crowder College is second. Dyersburg State and Chattahoochee Valley are Nos. 4 and 5.

Johnson County remains No. 14 and Cowley is receiving votes this week.

Hutchinson is bidding for its first Region VI baseball championship since 2010 and fourth regional title overall.

As a team, the Blue Dragons are fourth in the NJCAA with 91 home runs and 10th in team batting average at .345.

 

 

2017 NJCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL RANKINGS

                                                Record          Points            Last Week

1. Chipola (10)42-8                200                 2
2. Crowder 46-10             188                 3
3. Hutchinson 45-11             178                 4
4. Dyersburg State 41-7                165                 6
5. Chattahoochee Valley 46-10             161         7
6. McLennan 45-10             143                 1
7. Wallace State 44-11             136                 8
8. Iowa Western 42-14             126                 12
9. Panola 43-11             113                 10
10. Polk State 41-13 104                 5
11. Odessa 44-11 92                   19
12. Connors State 46-10 85                   15
13. Santa Fe 37-12 73                   13
14. Johnson County 44-14 59                   14
15. San Jacinto-North 39-16 57                   20
16. Grayson 35-12 52                   9
17. John A. Logan 39-11 43                   RV
18. Palm Beach State 37-13 33                   RV
19. Harford 46-8 26                   RV
20. Wabash Valley 42-12 25                   18

Others Receiving Votes: Jefferson (42-12, 16.0); Cowley (39-16, 15.0); Southern Nevada; 37-14, 4.0); Cochise (43-15)

 

REGION VI TOURNAMENT

When: May 12-16

Where: Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, Wichita

Opening-Round Match-ups – Friday, May 12

10 a.m. – Barton (42-16) vs. Neosho County (39-20)

1 p.m. – Fort Scott (37-22) vs. Cowley (39-16)

4 p.m. – Hutchinson (45-11) vs. Kansas City (40-19)

7 p.m. – Johnson County (44-14) vs. Dodge City (38-17-1)

Live Video: All Hutch games streamed on the Blue Dragon Sports Network

Twitter: @bluedragonsport

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Nate Karns struck out 10 while pitching into the seventh inning, Eric Hosmer had three hits and the Kansas City Royals busted out of an offensive slump to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 on Monday night.

Kansas City matched its best run output of the year and set a season high with 13 hits. Drew Butera had two hits and drove in his first two runs of the season, helping the Royals win for the fourth time in 17 games. Kansas City had scored three or fewer runs in four straight games.

Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield each had two hits for Kansas City, and Hosmer also stole two bases.

Karns (2-2) completed 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, six hits and two walks.

Blake Snell (0-3) allowed four runs and 10 hits over five innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Mike Clevinger and four relievers combined for a one-hitter as the Cleveland Indians beat the Kansas City Royals 1-0 Sunday.

Carlos Santana had three hits, including an RBI single in the fifth for the game’s only run.

Clevinger (1-0), making his first start in place of the injured Corey Kluber, gave up a double to Salvador Perez with one out in the fourth for the Royals’ hit. He walked four and struck out five in 5 2/3 innings.

Boone Logan came on in the sixth and walked Eric Hosmer, before Bryan Shaw replaced him and struck out all four batters he faced. Andrew Miller pitched a perfect eighth — keeping his ERA at 0.00 over 15 2/3 innings this season — and Cody Allen pitched the ninth for his ninth save in nine chances.

Danny Duffy (2-3) held the Indians to one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Derek Holland scattered three hits while pitching into the seventh inning, Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson went deep off Ian Kennedy and the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 8-3 Thursday to split their four-game series.

Holland (3-2) exited with two outs in the seventh after giving up two runs, only one of them earned. He also struck out seven with only one walk in his latest dominant start for Chicago.

The left-hander has allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first six outings this season.

Kennedy (0-3) surrendered five runs on six hits and a walk before leaving with a strained right hamstring with one out in the fifth. The Royals said that Kennedy will be evaluated Friday to determine the severity of the injury.

Kennedy struggled from the onset, giving up a one-out single to Melky Cabrera and a 427-foot homer to Abreu in the first. Davidson added his solo shot into the fountains in left in the second.