OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Mark Canha hit an RBI double with two outs in the 11th inning and the Oakland Athletics edged the Kansas City Royals 1-0 Wednesday to hold their lead atop the AL wild-card race.

The Athletics, who have won seven of eight, began the day two games ahead of Tampa Bay for the top wild-card spot. Cleveland was a half-game behind the Rays.

Starters Homer Bailey of the A’s and Danny Duffy of the Royals each pitched seven sharp innings. Bailey, who was traded from Kansas City to Oakland in July, allowed three hits and struck out 11 while Duffy gave up two hits and fanned six.

Jurickson Profar drew a leadoff walk from Jesse Hahn (0-1) in the 11th and stole second. After striking out Marcus Semien and Matt Chapman, Hahn intentionally walked Matt Olson to face Canha.

J.B. Wendelken (3-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. He struck out Jorge Soler with the bases loaded and two outs in the 11th.

Bailey is 4-0 with a 1.88 ERA over his last seven starts. The Royals struck out 19 times and are three defeats away from reaching the 100-loss plateau with nine games left.

FANCY FIELDING

A’s left fielder Chad Pinder saved at least a run with a diving catch on a flarer off Ryan O’Hearn’s bat with runners at first and second with two outs in the seventh to keep the game scoreless.

Soler doubled off Bailey with one out and would have scored easily. Alex Gordon, who was issued an intentional walk ahead of O’Hearn’s at bat, likely would have scored, too.

MORE FANCY FIELDING

Royals left fielder Gordon crashed into the wall making a running catch to rob Canha of extra bases with one out in the seventh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Jakob Junis has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to concerns about his workload, manager Ned Yost said. Junis has pitched 175 1/3 innings in 31 starts. . LHP Eric Skoglund will take Junis’ spot in the rotation.

Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers, who experienced nerve irritation in his right arm in his last start, will take his regular turn in the rotation on Friday, when Oakland opens a three-game series against Texas. Fiers lasted just 1 2/3 innings on Sept. 14 against the Rangers in Arlington. He has experienced the injury intermittently over the past two seasons. Fiers had MRI earlier this week and was cleared after throwing a bullpen session without issues, manager Bob Melvin said. “We’ll continue to monitor him, but this has kind of popped up for before, hasn’t been an issue for him later on,” Melvin said. “He’s pretty routine-oriented, so we’ll keep him on schedule.”

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Mike Montgomery (3-9, 4.70 ERA) will pitch Thursday’s series opener against Minnesota. He’s 0-4 with a 4.85 over his last five starts (14 earned runs, 26 innings).

Athletics: Fiers (14-4, 4.09 ERA) will pitch Friday’s series opener against the Texas Rangers. Oakland’s most reliable starter for most of the season has given up 12 earned runs in 2 2/3 innings over his last two starts and has an 18.78 ERA in three September starts (16 earned runs, 7.2 innings pitched).

The week 2 volleyball rankings from the Kansas Volleyball Coaches Association

CLASS 6A
1. Blue Valley North 9-0 (1)
2. Washburn Rural 8-1 (2)
3. Blue Valley West 4-1 (3)
4. Blue Valley 4-2 (4)
5. Gardner-Edgerton 8-3 (5)
6. Garden City 4-0 (6)
7. Mill Valley 6-2 (9)
8. Derby 8-2 (8)
9. Blue Valley Northwest 8-2 (7)
10. Wichita East 9-1 (10)

CLASS 5A
1. St. James Academy 8-0 (1)
2. St. Thomas Aquinas 4-1 (2)
3. Spring Hill 13-0 (6)
4. Bishop Carroll 9-0 (4)
5. Lansing 6-4 (3)
6. Bonner Springs 8-2 (5)
7. Maize South 12-0 (7)
8. Basehor-Linwood 10-2 (NR)
9. Topeka-Seaman 10-4 (8)
10. Goddard 14-2 (10)

CLASS 4A
1. Andale 13-1 (1)
2. Topeka-Hayden 9-4 (2)
3. Nickerson 13-2 (5)
4. Bishop Miege 0-2 (3)
5. Louisburg 5-5 (4)
6. Wichita-Trinity Academy 6-1 (6)
7. Buhler 8-1 (7)
8. Chapman 10-3 (NR)
9. Circle 6-3 (9)
10. Independence 3-2 (8)

CLASS 3A
1. Royal Valley 15-0 (1)
2. Beloit 10-0 (3)
3. Hesston 10-2 (4)
4. Sabetha 14-2 (7)
5. Belle Plaine 8-3 (5)
6. Frontenac 8-2 (6)
7. Silver Lake 4-4 (2)
8. West Franklin 4-0 (8)
9. Phillipsburg 5-1 (10)
10. Riverton 9-1 (NR)

CLASS 2A
1. Wabaunsee 11-1 (1)
2. Smith Center 5-0 (2)
3. Garden Plain 8-1 (3)
4. Sedgwick 13-1 (4)
5. St. Mary’s-Colgan 10-1 (5)
6. Valley Heights 13-3 (6)
7. Ellinwood 11-1 (7)
8. Maranatha Christian 7-2 (8)
9. Trego Community 9-3 (9)
10. Oskaloosa 10-4 (10)

CLASS 1A
1. Rural Vista 11-0 (6)
2. Spearville 3-2 (1)
3. Centralia 7-3 (2)
4. Chetopa 12-1 (5)
5. Attica 10-0 (10)
6. Golden Plains 14-1 (9)
7. Beloit-St. John’s/Tipton 10-2 (8)
8. Thunder Ridge 13-1 (7)
9. Little River 7-4 (3)
10. Moundridge 9-5 (4)

(BY STEVE CARPENTER)
(HUTCHINSON CC SPORTS INFORMATION)

DODGE CITY – Chevelle Henry scored a pair of first-half goals and the Hutchinson Community College women’s soccer team posted its sixth shutout of the season with a 3-0 Jayhawk West road victory on Wednesday at Dodge City.

The Blue Dragons improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 (12 points) in the Jayhawk West. Dodge City falls to 1-3-1, 1-2. Hutchinson plays host to Pratt at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the Salthawk Sports Complex.

Hutchinson dominated possession in both halves. The Dragons outshot Dodge City 13-3, 10-1 in the first half alone. The Blue Dragons win their 19th-consecutive game over Dodge City.

The Blue Dragons scored their first two goals within 1:06 of each other in the first half.

Henry found a rebound off a Naomi Waithira shot right at her foot and she pounded the ball past Dodge City goalkeeper Priscilla Gonzalez for a 1-0 lead.

Just 1:06 later, Samantha Vaughn took a Marah Franke cross and scored for a 2-0 lead with 17:04 to play in the first half. Vaughn scored her 12 goal of the season.

The Blue Dragons added a third goal with less than 2 minutes to play in the first half. Cameron Rodriguez brought down a Franke corner kick and slid a pass to her left and Henry drilled her second goal of the game with 1:42 remaining.

Henry now has six goals for the season.

Going against a strong southerly wind, the Dragons maintained possession and only fired three shots, getting one on goal.

Freshman goalkeeper Chiara Soergel posted her sixth shutout of the season and made her first save in three games with a save in the second half. Gonzalez had eight saves for Dodge City.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP)— On Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks return to David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium to host the West Virginia Mountaineers in their first Big 12 Conference game of the season, with kickoff slated for 3:30 p.m., in Lawrence. The game will air on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

The Jayhawks are coming off a convincing 48-24 victory over the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium, where Kansas exploded for 567 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, after falling behind 10-0 to begin the game. The Jayhawks responded with a 27-0 run to close out the game, giving KU its first road victory over a Power-5 opponent since 2008.

Saturday’s game against West Virginia is the eighth in the series history, with West Virginia holding the series advantage, 7-1. The game also marks the second Big 12 opener between the two programs, with the last opener coming in 2017.

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup between the Mountaineers and Jayhawks, head coach Les Miles met with the media.

 

 

Wednesday Morning Sports with KWBW’s Rob Dreher.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Howie Kendrick finished a double shy of hitting for a cycle, Patrick Corbin pitched six strong innings, and the Washington Nationals beat the St. Louis Cardinals 6-2. St. Louis leads the NL Central by two games over the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers, and the Nationals hold the NL’s top wild card by 1 1/2 games over the Cubs and Brewers. Corbin struck out 11 while giving up two unearned runs and five hits in six innings.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog is recovering from a minor stroke. The 87-year-old Herzog became ill Monday at his charity golf tournament at Forest Hills Country Club in suburban St. Louis. The St. Louis Cardinals say Herzog is “currently resting and doing well.”

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Matt Olson hit a tying homer leading off the seventh, Seth Brown hit a go-ahead double two batters later, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 to keep control of the AL’s top wild card. Olson’s drive to deep center reached the Coliseum’s elevated bleachers in the level above the luxury suites. Royals starter Jorge Lopez (4-8) then hit Mark Canha with a pitch before Brown doubled.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Everyone thought Sammy Watkins and flashy rookie Mecole Hardman would pick up the slack for injured Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Turns out it was Demarcus Robinson who had the big day. He hauled in all six of his passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns as the Chiefs rolled to a 28-10 victory over the Raiders on Sunday.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State has some cleaning up to do if it wants to become the team it hoped to be back in August. Muffed punts and untimely penalties have hurt the Cyclones, who have also struggled to score points in their 1-1 start to the season. Iowa State hosts Louisiana-Monroe this weekend.

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The numbers say Oklahoma’s defense has improved this season. Last season, Oklahoma ranked 114th out of 129 schools in total defense and 101st in scoring defense. This season, the Sooners rank 46th nationally out of 130 teams in scoring defense and 58th in total defense. An aggressive, ball-hawking unit led by new coordinator Alex Grinch has done its part in the fifth-ranked Sooners’ 3-0 start.

National Headlines

UNDATED (AP) _ The Milwaukee Brewers are back in a tie with the Chicago Cubs for the second NL wild card and two games behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals. The Brew Crew won for the 11th time in 12 games as Mike Moustakas and Lorenzo Cain homered in a 3-1 win against San Diego. Gray struck out nine and allowed two runs over 6 2/3 innings to pitch Cincinnati to a 4-2 victory over the Cubs.

ATLANTA (AP) _ Rhys Hoskins and Jose Pirela hit two-run homers off Dallas Keuchel in a five-run fourth before the Philadelphia Phillies withstood a chaotic ninth inning to beat the Atlanta Braves, 5-4. Vince Velasquez gave up two runs in the first before recovering with four straight scoreless innings to get the win. Adam Duvall led off the ninth with a homer off Phillies closer Héctor Neris, who later put runners on first and third with one out before posting his 27th save.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) _ The Minnesota Twins trimmed their magic number for winning the AL Central to seven by scoring three runs in the bottom of the 12th to knock off the Chicago White Sox, 9-8. Ronald Torreyes was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to end it after Marwin Gonzalez tied it with a two-run single. Ryan Cordell’s two-run blast in the top of the 12th put Chicago ahead before Minnesota rallied for the second time in extra innings.

UNDATED (AP) _ The New York Yankees and Houston Astros both cut their magic number for clinching an AL postseason berth to one. Luis Severino worked four innings in his season debut and Gleyber Torries slammed a three-run homer as the Yankees pounded the Los Angeles Angels, 8-0. Justin Verlander picked up his major league-leading 19th win by scattering four hits and striking out eight over six shutout innings of the Astros’ 4-1 verdict over Texas.

Tuesday Scores

INTERLEAGUE
Final Seattle 6 Pittsburgh 0
Final San Francisco 7 Boston 6 (15 Innings)
Final L-A Dodgers 7 Tampa Bay 5

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Final N-Y Yankees 8 L-A Angels 0
Final Cleveland 7 Detroit 2
Final Toronto 8 Baltimore 5
Final Houston 4 Texas 1
Final Minnesota 9 Chi White Sox 8 (12 Innings)
Final Oakland 2 Kansas City 1

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Final Milwaukee 3 San Diego 1
Final Philadelphia 5 Atlanta 4
Final Washington 6 St. Louis 2
Final Cincinnati 4 Chi Cubs 2
Final N-Y Mets 6 Colorado 1
Final Miami 12 Arizona 6

OAKLAND, Calif. — Matt Olson hit a tying homer leading off the seventh, Seth Brown hit a go-ahead double two batters later, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Kansas City Royals 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Olson’s drive to deep center reached the Coliseum’s elevated bleachers in the level above the luxury suites. Jorge Lopez (4-8) then hit Mark Canha with a pitch before Brown doubled.

A.J. Puk (2-0) followed Brett Anderson and struck out two over two shutout innings for his second major league win. Liam Hendriks struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth for his 23rd save in 29 opportunities.

The A’s, who hold the top AL wild-card spot, bounced back after their six-game winning streak was snapped by Monday’s 6-5 loss to the Royals in the series opener.

Kansas City’s Nick Dini hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth for the game’s first run.

Anderson allowed five hits over five innings. The left-hander has received three or fewer runs of support in 16 of his last 22 starts.

Lopez — who has only won on the road this season — missed a chance at winning three straight starts for the first time in his career. Demoted to the bullpen for an extensive stretch midseason, he has been steady of late.

The right-hander allowed two runs and four hits in six innings in his first career start against the A’s and second appearance.

Ryan McBroom doubled leading off the fifth and advanced on a single by Cheslor Cuthbert before Dini’s sac fly for Kansas City, which took pregame infield practice — a rare sight for September.

Majors hits leader Whit Merrifield, coming off three consecutive two-hit games for the Royals, went 0 for 4.

SEPTEMBER SURGING

The A’s improved to 12-4 in September, second in baseball only to Milwaukee’s 13-3. The Brewers beat San Diego at home.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers underwent an MRI exam for nerve irritation in his hand, and then threw a bullpen session. He is scheduled to make his next start, likely one of this weekend’s games against Texas. Fiers left his start Saturday in the second inning because of numbness. … Manager Bob Melvin was a late arrival after receiving another round of injections in his troublesome neck. … OF Ramon Laureano had a night off from starting after playing four of the previous five games, though he came in late. Laureano was activated from the injured list Sept. 6 after missing 32 games with a stress reaction in his lower right leg and Melvin is being careful to not overextend him.

UP NEXT

Right-hander Homer Bailey (13-8, 4.76 ERA) pitches for the A’s against his former Royals club, opposite lefty Danny Duffy (6-6, 4.55 ERA). Bailey was acquired by Oakland in a trade July 14. He was the winning pitcher in a 19-4 victory at Kansas City on Aug. 26. Duffy is 4-0 with a 2.89 ERA over eight appearances and seven starts vs. Oakland.

— Associated Press —

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Big 12 Conference and ESPN announced Monday that Kansas State’s Big 12 Conference opener at Oklahoma State on Sept. 28 will kick off at 6 p.m., and be streamed live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

K-State is riding a two-game winning streak over Oklahoma State, defeating the 10^th-ranked Cowboys, 45-40, two years ago in Stillwater before a 31-12 victory in Manhattan last season. The Wildcats are looking to win two-straight games in Stillwater for the first time since 1995 and 1998.

Following the game against the Cowboys, K-State opens a three-game homestand on Oct. 5 against Baylor. Fans can purchase a Flex Mobile Pass for just $199, which includes a ticket to all five Big 12 home games at less than $40 per game.

Fans can also purchase a 3-Game Pack with seats in the lower level for the games against the Bears, TCU (Oct. 19) and West Virginia (Nov. 16) by clicking here, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Big 12 TV Selections for Saturday, September 28

Texas Tech at Oklahoma		11 a.m.		FOX
Kansas at TCU		11 a.m.		FS1
Iowa State at Baylor		2:30 p.m.		ABC, ESPN or ESPN2
K-State at Oklahoma State		6 p.m.		Big 12 Now on ESPN+

 

 

– k-statesports.com –